After a conversation with Roger today the seed has been sown about perhaps running my business under one name rather than 2.

When I originally set up I had only just learnt to face paint and was terrified of balloons so Naively called myself The Face Factory.  I tried to add the balloons to my website but only got people wanting it chucked in for free with the face painting.  Also I did not want to be seen as as hobby Mum for the balloons too (because unfortunately people do not see face painting as a proper business because it is mainly done by Mums earning a bit of pin money and anyone can do it can't they  :twisted: ) nor a face painter that dabbled in balloons so I set up Loony Balloony.

I have been trading as The Face Factory for 2.5 years now and as Loony Balloony for about 1 and I have flyers, business cards, embroidered workwear with these names on them not to mention the reputation I have built up and clients I have that know me as one of these 2 companies and I suspect it would cause huge problems to get the name changed on thier systems and the tax man's one too.

However, I have now discovered that there is a decor place in Herefordshire with the name Loony Balloony which may cause me problems since I shall be adding the decor to my business shortly.  They are not currently a Ltd Co but as they have been trading since 1995 I am concerned because if they went Ltd I would have to change my business name and I think I would rather do it now than a few years down the road.

My original plan had been to have both the twisting and decor under Loony Balloony and then keep the face painting etc under The Face Factory but it is a pain remembering which email account to send details out from, which booking forms to use etc etc and then there is the whole problem of how to answer the phone too!

I'm really not sure what to think at present and could really do with some insight from 3rd parties at present cos if I ask my hubby he will probably say stay as I am since I have all the stuff printed up etc.

I would also like to make a decision within the next month or so as I want to get the sign writing in the back of my car re-done to either the one company or to Loony Balloony.

How about and I've only given it a few seconds to think about.

"The Party Lady" for all your party needs.

Adding Fun, Excitement, Balloons and Face Painting.

Bless cheers Graham!

At the moment it is more a do I don't I question (to which I am erring to do) rather than new names etc although that will be a topic later should I go down that path.

The idea with Loony Balloony (and still would be if I combine everything to one Co Name) would be to have a home page with options of Entertainment (i.e. twisting / face painting / mini makeovers / SFX / Temporary & glitter tattoos) and Decor and technically having 2 subsites as I suspect that most people who would want a face painter or twister for little Timmy's 5th Birthday Party will possibly not want to fork out on decorating the hall too!!  

Also it should mean that people will not be overwhelmed with too many choices when they look on the site and will make it easier if I decide to add any more strings to my bow.

I plan on laying it out in similar fashion to my friend Jasmin's site - //http://www.jazzyfaces.com but obviously with a different design and the home page bit as above.

I always recommend one name, with more than one you dont know how to answer the phone! How can you know what they are going to ask for when the phone rings, what if they want more than one service? do you offer to pass the phone over to you?

Also you will find items cross, you do face painting and balloons or decor too how do you account for it? do you raise umpteem invoices for parts of the same job? you use your glitter from your face painitng to write on a balloon, what stock items are you using? do you have to sell the glitter from your face painiting company to your balloon company? the Tax man will say Yes you do, when in reality thats a bit far fetched, but it is all correct. Much easier with one set of accoounts and one company name

Pam

Hi Yvonne

I think you should stick with the Face Factory - just add a byline 'For all your party needs'. Have Loony Balloony as a character, and if someone wants Loony and a face painter, subcontract out the painter (you have a host of good ones available that you know won't let you down). The Factory part of your business name implies a range of services available, and then add a page for the decor part of the business.

You've come so far in the last couple of years which shows you've got a good business head on your shoulders.

Liz

I actually no longer like The Face Factory as a name and it is too similar to another business locally that quite a few entertainers have had problems with and I would like to make sure there is no association there either