Brand Name vs Company Name: What's the Difference?

Clarify the distinction between brand names and company names to make better decisions for your business.

5 min readBusiness Terminology

What is a Company Name?

A company name is your legal business entity name. It's:

  • Registered with government authorities
  • Legally binding for contracts and transactions
  • Associated with your business license and tax ID
  • Often includes legal structure indicators (LLC, Inc., Corp, etc.)
  • Required for official business documentation

Example: "TextiArt Solutions LLC" is a company name.

What is a Brand Name?

A brand name is what customers know you as. It's:

  • The name you use in marketing and advertising
  • What appears on your website and social media
  • Associated with customer perception and loyalty
  • Often trademarked for protection
  • Can be the same as or different from your company name

Example: "TextiArt" is a brand name.

Key Differences

Purpose

Company Name: Legal and administrative

Brand Name: Marketing and customer recognition

Scope

Company Name: One per legal entity

Brand Name: Can have multiple brands under one company

Flexibility

Company Name: Difficult and expensive to change

Brand Name: Can be updated or evolved

Visibility

Company Name: Often hidden from public

Brand Name: Front and center in all customer touchpoints

Real-World Examples

Google:

Company Name: Alphabet Inc. | Brand Names: Google, YouTube, Android, etc.

Facebook:

Company Name: Meta Platforms Inc. | Brand Names: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.

Luxury Goods:

Company Name: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton | Brand Names: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, etc.

When Should You Use the Same Name?

Using your brand name as your company name is common for:

  • Solopreneurs and small businesses
  • Startups with a single product or service
  • Businesses where transparency is important
  • When building a personal brand

When Should You Use Different Names?

Consider separate names for:

  • Multi-brand companies with diverse products
  • Franchises or franchise-like operations
  • Portfolio companies managing multiple brands
  • When you want corporate privacy
  • Scaling internationally with localized brands

Important Considerations

  • Both should be trademarked for protection
  • Domain registration applies to brand names
  • Brand name determines customer perception
  • Company name determines legal responsibilities
  • Consider both from day one of planning

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