Do a trademark search before choosing your business name

Many business owners who neglected this step with a new company name and put it out there, only to receive a cease and desist order that forces him or her back to the drawing board.

"Before you commit yourself in any way to commissioning a logo, putting up a website, making signage and so on, make sure the name is legally available," Marcia Yudkin says.

Save yourself a big headache by visiting the U.S. Patent and Trademark site at http://www.uspto.gov, where you can search for registered trademarks. Also visit http://www.yudkin.com for additional tips on naming your business.