Selecting your trademark is the first major step in starting your business.  Before you invest in your business or even print business cards, it is important to search the marketplace to see if anyone else has adopted a similar name first

Tips for searching your name:

Check with the Department of Commerce in your state to see if the name is available for use on a new business in your state

Perform a free search at www.USPTO.gov to see if anyone has tried to register your name nationally

Google your name to see if someone else is using your name and already has "common law" rights to it because they used it first

Check all the common URL extensions of your name to see who else has it and what they are using it for.

Check alternate spellings, hyphenation, word order and synonyms.

Consider your industry and make certain your name is unique and helps you stand out from the competition.

When in doubt, hiring a trademark attorney to perform a comprehensive search and provide you a recommendation on the availability  of your name is the best way to get peace of mind before you move ahead.