Research · Brand & market

Know the ground before you build

Who you’re up against, what customers look for, and whether your name and domain are clear to use. The questions worth answering before a single page is designed.

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01Market & competitor research

Who you’re up against

A clear picture of your market, built from what competitors publish, what customers say and what people search for.

  1. 01

    Competitor mapping

    Prices, offers, guarantees, reviews and search visibility for the businesses you compete with, side by side.

  2. 02

    Search demand

    What people search for, how often and when, using search data and trends, with the limits of that data stated plainly.

  3. 03

    Customer questions

    What customers ask and complain about, gathered from reviews, forums and search results.

  4. 04

    Lessons from other trades

    How strong businesses outside your industry win trust and repeat custom, and which of their ideas would work for you.

02Name & trade mark research

A name you can build on

Changing a name after launch is expensive. A few hours of careful research beforehand is not.

  1. 01

    Trade mark registers

    Searches of the UK IPO register and TMview, which covers the UK, EU and international registers, for identical and similar marks in relevant classes.

  2. 02

    Companies House

    Registered and dissolved company names that match or come close, and what those companies do.

  3. 03

    Domains & social handles

    Availability of the main domains and handles, and who holds the ones that are taken.

  4. 04

    Use in the wild

    Web and marketplace searches for businesses already trading under the name, and its meaning in other languages, Cornish included.

03Domain search & registration

The right address, checked

A domain can come with a past. We check before you buy, then set it up in your name.

  1. 01

    Shortlist

    Options across .co.uk, .uk and .com, judged for length, spelling and how they sound when said aloud.

  2. 02

    History checks

    What the domain was used for before, using the Wayback Machine archive and reputation checks for spam or blocklisting.

  3. 03

    Registered in your name

    Bought at a registrar you choose, with you as the owner and renewal reminders in place.

  4. 04

    Email that arrives

    MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records set up, so your messages land in inboxes rather than spam.

04Prices Draft, to confirm

Fixed fees, agreed first

Fixed fees, agreed before we start. Registrar and official fees are always paid by you, at their own prices.

  1. Name screen

    One name: UK and international trade mark registers, Companies House, domains, social handles and a web search.

    Suits Shortlisting ideas

    from £95/name

  2. Name shortlist report

    Up to three names, with meanings, domain history and a red, amber or green summary of what we found.

    Suits Choosing a new name

    from £245

  3. Competitor snapshot

    Five competitors in one area: prices, offers, reviews, search visibility and what they do well.

    Suits Pricing and positioning

    from £295

  4. Market & competitor report

    Search demand, competitors, customer questions and lessons from other industries, with a plan.

    Suits New ventures and relaunches

    from £650

  5. Domain search & setup

    Shortlist, history checks, registration in your name and DNS and email records. Registrar fees are paid by you.

    Suits New or extra domains

    from £75

Draft prices for Jon to set. All fees agreed in writing before work begins. Placeholder VAT status.

Questions

Research questions

All questions and answers

01Can you tell me whether a name is safe to use?

We can tell you what the registers and the web show, and flag the risks we see. Whether a name is legally safe is a question for a solicitor or a chartered trade mark attorney, and our report gives them a head start.

02Can you file my trade mark?

No. We can explain the official process and fees, and prepare the research, but filing and legal advice should come from you directly or from a qualified professional.

03Whose name is the domain in?

Yours. We register it in your name, with your contact details, at a registrar you choose. Registration fees are paid by you at the registrar’s price.

Choosing a name, or entering a new market?

Tell us the names you’re considering or the market you’re looking at. We’ll suggest the right research.

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