I’m looking to start a small handmade jewelry business on the side, since this is a hobby I’d be doing anyway, I see no harm in trying. I have my brand name, etc. down, but I keep getting stuck in this loop:
I feel like I need to trademark my name before registering an LLC or establishing an online presence, but then I also don’t want to waste my money on trademarking the name if my business doesn’t do well. I keep thinking I should start a website + social media accounts for the brand first to establish a presence and audience, but then I get concerned that someone will steal the brand name for themselves if it’s not already trademarked. This has led to complete decision paralysis.
I don’t have a ton of money to pour into this business other than for materials, so trademarking would mean navigating that myself without a lawyer. I’m mostly just confused on where to start.
You’re definitely dealing with a classic entrepreneur’s conundrum here. In my opinion, the best step would be to first establish your online presence and test the market before investing heavily in things like trademarking right off the bat. There’s little chance of someone stealing your brand name at these initial stages, and if you find that your business is picking up good traction, then you can consider moving forward with an LLC and a trademark.
Another point to consider, the process of registering an LLC is simpler and less costly compared to trademarking. Before you do this though, it’s worth noting that an LLC provides liability protection but it doesn’t necessarily protect your brand name like a trademark would. But again, it’s all about validating your business concept first before delving into these legal aspects.
As a side note, remember that building a social following and online presence takes time, so it wouldn’t be wasted effort even if you chose to change your brand name later on. Start small, test the market, and then proceed with the heavier investments once you’re confident in the businesses viability. You’ve got this!