I'm going to be starting a part-time business in the building I bought(though I hope to go full-time eventually), and I'm having trouble deciding on a name I really like.
Since were in a very small, rural area, I'm planning on offering several different - and not always related - services, which I feel there's a need for(FWIW I've done all these jobs for-hire on the side in the past).
Additionally, my parents had a(completely unrelated)business here in town 20-years ago, and their reputation was so strong then that it's still a presence now. Therefore, I think it's important to incorporate my last-name into the business name.
Here's the list of what I'll be offering:
PC Repair
Printer/copier Repair
Computer Networking
eBay Consignments
Hand-painted Signs
Freehand Pinstriping
Bicycle Repair
And I plan on having a recording studio/mobile-recording setup within a year.
Yes, it's a seemingly haphazard list, but in our small market I'll need to be diversified to keep busy. Unfortunately, there isn't much that ties all these together, except that they're all Service-Related. So, my initial name idea was "Gossett Services", but that just seems kinda....blah. 
Gossett Tech, was another idea, but not everything listed is tech-oriented.
So, since this is such a creative bunch around here, does anyone have any name ideas???? I can repay you with some free services! 
I would go with something simple like Gosset's. Then paint the other stuff you do on the window.
Gossett's Service and Repair
When they call you to ask what you service, ask 'em "What you got?" 
Seriously though, you do have to narrow it down for name's sake, so why not focus on the group of computer related services and go with Gossett Computer Services? As customers get to know you they will learn you are skilled in other areas. You can always make business cards that list some of the other specialties you offer and leave off a logo and business name and just go with contact info.
Gossett Technical Services LLC
Playing off the technology and playing off the good family name...
Gossett's Second Generation
Gossett's Next Generation
Gossett's Next Generation Services
etc.
carzan
Reader
9/1/09 8:51 p.m.
Gossett's Grassroots Service Center 
I do signs but please don't try to put to much out front you can advertise inside all the other stuff you do >>>>> contact jill she has a great flare and eye for signs no lie !!! http://www.jillscustomsigns.com/ n DO yourself a Favor jill is awesome !
"Gossett's (NOT Gosselin's)"
Gossett's Tech & etc. maybe?
I think you'll have better luck if you run each service as a seperate "brand". When people say the business name, they should have a very clear idea of what that is, i.e. when someone says "Tide", or "Glock", or "Gibson", you know immediately what they're talking about. Contrast that with "Mitsubishi" or "Yamaha", where you could be taking about cars, bikes, music equipment, etc, etc.
It appears to me that you have three business: General Computer Repair; Sign Painting; and Bike Repair. That tells me you should really have three business names, though there's nothing wrong with tying them together (i.e. Gossett Computers, Gossett's Signs and Stripes, and Gossett's Bicycle Repair and Chain Driven Emporium).
When you set the sound studio up, I'd keep it separate, too.
gamby
SuperDork
9/1/09 11:02 p.m.
spitfirebill wrote:
Gossett's One Stop
That makes sense to me.
I agree w/ ECM, though--might be a bit too diverse.
Call it "Souci". Play emo music and keep the lights dimmed down low. At night, you can turn it into a club where people come to listen to music and cut themselves.
Can you make it appear to your customers as if the business is actually several businesses? That way, you only have to do legal stuff for one business, but you can separate them into Gossett's Computer Tech Services, Gossett's Art and Signs, and Gossett's Bicycle Repair. When people are looking for a place that does signs, they are rarely looking at a place which seems to sell and repair bicycles.
Gossett's "yup we do that"
sorry can't realy help... I still wonder how you could effectively do ALL those things under one roof... I guess in my mind I just see you helping someone with a computer then someone bringing in a bike that needs work, how to you deal with that? haha but I do understand the small town thing and needing to diversify...
Wow, thanks for all the replies!
Yes, realistically I expect the PC/printer repair, and possibly the eBay consignments, to be my core business - but there's really no way to know until I open the doors.
There's no one else in the area offering the signs or pinstriping, so I'm sure I'll get business there too.
I don't really expect much bike repair business(I'd be surprised if there's more than 100-rideable bikes in town...and we own 8!), but on the other hand, there's only one other shop 20mi away, and they have the reputation of being ignorant fools. I won't even go there because their tech is so obnoxious(he got bannned from the local MTB forum!).
I'm afraid that if I call it Gossett Service and/or Repair, people will think it's an auto-shop. Since there's no garage area(yet) that would be a problem, plus I don't think I want to go that route.
Thanks again & keep the ideas coming!
So I was thinking about this some more, I suppose I could just call the business Gossett Enterprises, and list everything I offer below the name.
Of course, I also had the idea for something quirky, like Gossett's Emporium of Repair, but I have a feeling my friends would mock me by calling it the Emporium of Despair!
The Government of The United States of America. What? They do a little of everything too, right?
I am still considering doing Mobile Brake installations and calling it "Them's the Brakes"
No, no, no! Embrace the fact that you're so well diversified!
"Gossett's Old Fashioned Service and Repair"
Use your lettering/striping skills to make it 50's style detailed and awesome and list out all of your services. Make sure you emphasize that no matter what you're working on it's customer service that's your "real" business.
