So disappointed. I might need to change my business name

[PurpleSneakers]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you lovely people can help me? Last year while still studying, I registered my business name after carefully looking at competitors details in the local market to be sure not to have business names that were similar. I choose ‘New Leaf Hypnotherapy’ (I am not in the UK and it was available to be registered). I have since got a logo, got the domain and 95% of the website is completed, with the business due to start late January.

Fast forward to now, and in the last 2 weeks a new business has sprung up this area (think ‘New Hope Hypnotherapy’ - not it’s real name). I have sought advice ranging from friends to impartial people’s view, with mixed input about whether the names are too similar to cause confusion amongst customers (example on Google ads etc).

There should not be any legal ramifications as both names are registered properly, however I feel a bit obliged to change as I would be appalled if the shoe was on the other foot and it was I who had set out in business first and then had someone else come along with a very similar name.

My question is what would you do in this situation? Do I change my name? I don’t want to change it, but I am starting to think I really might have to?

If I did have to change, can any of you wise people offer some nature inspired names. I can change the wording of my logo, but I don’t want to change the format, so it would have to be in the vicinity of 3-5 words. I would like to keep the ‘leaf’ if possible as it is incorporated into the logo and website, but it could be related to nature/trees. I specialise in anxiety conditions & offer both local and online service.

Thank you so much for any help you can give.

[Rodion]

That's annoying.

Fresh leaf
Budding leaf
Spring leaf

[AnotherMansCause]

Is that the real name of your business? How about Green Leaf instead? You wouldn't have to change much about the branding etc? Assuming you've built some of the imagery etc on the name?

[PurpleSneakers]

Thanks @Rodion

Budding leaf is quite a good suggestion. I considered Fresh but it is in a slogan for a well-known brand here so ruled it out.

Any more ideas?

[NoSquirrels]

Fresh Start Hypnotherapy

[NoSquirrels]

Ah! Not ‘fresh’ then!

[Mumoftwoinprimary]

@NoSquirrels

Fresh Start Hypnotherapy

That is brilliant!

[ApolloandDaphne]

New Life hypnotherapy?

[NoSquirrels]

Growing Strong Hypnotherapy

[WhatsitWiggle]

To me, new leaf and new hope are not similar. The new leaf part is the most important, it's such a well known saying. So maybe add anxiety or change hypnotherapy to wellness or counselling? If your website SEO is strong enough, then the hypnotherapy part will show in google results regardless of your business name or web domain.

[WhatScratch]

If it were ‘New Hope’ Disney would sue!

[InTheLabyrinth]

I'd replace the "New" and think that would make them different enough.

Green leaf?
Fresh Leaf?
Type of leaf - Oak Maple etc depending on the image and where you are.
Peaceful leaf? Restful? Not as keen on these.

[PurpleSneakers]

Thanks @AnotherMansCause.

I also considered Green, but it just doesn’t have any meaning for me. I really need a metaphor for change. I considered Branching out, but even that doesn’t sit right. When you know, you know right?

[PurpleSneakers]

@InTheLabyrinth yes I definitely need to get rid of the ‘new’. Oak maple sounds lovely, but not common where I am unfortunately.

[InTheLabyrinth]

What trees are common where you are? Or what does the leaf in your logo look like?
Palm Leaf? Eucalyptus leaf? Bamboo Leaf???

[Blueroses99]

Just did a quick Google and there are several companies called New Leaf in my area - eg gardening, therapy, wellness - as well as links to an animal crossing game! Even so, I like the name for the business that you have described.

[PurpleSneakers]

Thanks @WhatsitWiggle.
Those are some good things to consider. I am studying something to do with physical health so I had toyed with the idea of New Leaf Mind & Body but I am still considering the pros and cons of this.

Any more ideas?

[MacavityTheDentistsCat]

Mighty Oaks Hypnotherapy?

[PaperDoves]

Don't change it, lots of business names are similar. If you have strong branding you'll stand on your own as unique and people will remember the imagery of your logo as much as the words of the name.

[MacavityTheDentistsCat]

Blossom Hypnotherapy?

[Retrievemysanity]

Would it be easy to add a small caterpillar onto the leaf logo and then do something like Butterfly Hypnotherapy, making the connection of growth and change from the caterpillar to Butterfly?! Or is that too crazy? Otherwise something like Lush Leaf?

[PurpleSneakers]

@InTheLabyrinth
Out of that list, the logo’s leaves are most like a eucalyptus, which are here, however, they don’t symbolise to me any real change if that makes sense.

[PurpleSneakers]

@PaperDoves do you think so? I am hoping that in my heart, but I am really not sure.

[Vapeyvapevape]

Releaf hypnotherapy ?

[TheSpottedZebra]

Start Afresh
Blank sheet
Brand New You
Healthy Habits
Chapter One

Any of those?

[PurpleSneakers]

@MacavityTheDentistsCat (love your name) unfortunately Blossom taken as checked already.

@Retrievemysanity - the logo is my sticking point. I can change things on the website fairly easily, but the logo I paid (too) much for and I although I can alter it’s words on Canva, it is a bit too much for me (technology-wise) to change its form. Good suggestion though.