How to Choose a Name for your Side Hustle

Written by

Brianna LeCompte

I still remember attending my first Trivia night back in 2013. A group of my coworkers were discussing some options for happy hour venues and when we saw that a spot down the street was hosting a Trivia Night, we decided to go for it. I was instantly hooked. When the opportunity arose to join the Last Call team, I was ecstatic. Working with a talented and creative team to spread my love of trivia across the country-what could be better! I currently manage sales and outreach in our west coast areas. Outside of work, I love to travel and am also an avid equestrian and Disney movie lover.All Posts

What’s in a name? Let’s take that Shakespearean cliche and unpack what it means to your Trivia Night side hustle.

What do you want to communicate?

The name of your side hustle should represent the service you are offering to your clients. Using a name that incorporates key words related to your service cuts down on the amount of explaining needed to convey your offerings to potential clients.

Podcast Episode 34 Round 2

It is best to avoid initials or numbers in your business name, since these won’t mean anything to your potential customers.

When naming your Trivia Night side hustle, the most obvious approach is to include a word such as ‘trivia,” “quiz,” or “entertainment,” although you could opt for a more abstract name that still conveys the message of your service.

For example, think of these two different review sites: TripAdvisor and Yelp. TripAdvisor is a self-explanatory name for a website that provides reviews on hotels, flights, and travel destinations.

Yelp, on the other hand, is more abstract, but was chosen by the company’s founder because it “sounds like a cry for help,” and is a short, memorable name. Despite the different approach, both of these names have led to success for the respective companies.

Avoid names that are ultra-specific

When choosing a name for your Trivia Night side hustle, avoid boxing yourself in with a name that limits your future expansion. Using a city in your name can pose a problem if you decide to grow your business, or even if you relocate. For example, if you use the name “Tampa Trivia Sharks,” and add locations in Orlando, the name of your business is not relevant in your new region.

Also, consider the types of venues that you will be approaching. While bars and restaurants are the biggest market for Trivia, there are other opportunities such as retirement homes, fundraisers, community events, etc. With that in mind, be cautious of using words like “bar” or “beer” in your name if you plan to expand your reach.

Keep it short

The longer your business name is, the more likely people are to forget it. Try to keep your name to 3-4 words at the most. When in doubt, witty is always better than wordy.

Choose Something Timeless

As tempting as it may be to reference a current trend or pop culture reference in your name, stick to phrases that will continue to hold weight even years down the line. Remember back in the early 2010s when “YOLO” was a thing? How unfortunate would it have been to start a company branded with that phrase…

Podcast Episode 21 Round 1

Get Creative

Given the guidelines above, technically something along the lines of “Joe’s Trivia Company,” would be your best bet, right? Well, that’s where this final tip comes in to play: get creative. Your business name should reflect your personality, and be indicative of the fun atmosphere your Trivia Nights will bring. A name that is too straightforward can actually undermine your message.

Selecting a name for your Trivia Night side hustle is one of the first steps you’ll take to turn your dream into a reality. Use the tips above as a guide to create a name that’s a perfect fit for you. Remember that your Trivia Night side hustle will be whatever you decide to make it- so name it accordingly!