When choosing a name for a new business, can you use the word ‘company’ as part of your business name even though you will be a sole proprietor?
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When choosing a name for a new business, can you use the word ‘company’ as part of your business name even though you will be a sole proprietor?
I thought of a great name for my new business and i like the way it sounds with the word company attached to the end. However, since I’ll be a sole proprietor is this legal?
Asked on December 27, 2016 under Business Law, New Jersey
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you can call your business "company"--company does not have a specific legal meaning, so it is not deceptive or fraudulent for a sole proprietor to do this. You could not call it a corporation or LLC if it were not, since those terms do have specific defined meanings and using them improperly could confuse or trick customers, contractors, and vendors.
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