Multiple websites and brands for a company ?.

[RimBlock]

Hi,

I am a SPR and have a Sole Proprietorship which was registered with ACRA under a name specific to an area in my market of interest. I intended to sell predominately on-line in Singapore. I now wish to expand to other areas within the same market and have registered separate websites, each aimed at these different areas. The website names (or versions of them) are the brands I wish to use for sales receipts, invoices etc. The question is, in order to do that do I need to register separate companies aligned with each website in order to be able to use the brand on invoices or can I use the brand and then have a line on the invoice stating something like "This website is run by XXXXX" and include the ACRA registration number for XXXXX. Note all websites are .com and not .com.sg or any other Singapore specific domain.

An example to try to help understanding and maybe bring a smile . Note, this is not my market area and I have nothing to do with any example websites if they happen to exist (I have not checked).

A company (Sole Proprietorship) offering Honda body kits for purchase and install calls their company "Singapore super one Japanese car body kits Pow" and registers a website (http://www.honda-body-kits-singapore-nu ... re-lah.com).

The distributors that this company gets parts from also sell parts for Volvo bodykits and internal items for any car brands like fluffy dice.

The company owner decides to expand to other products but chooses to register another website for selling Volvo bodykits (www.Volvo-bodykits-are-babe-magnets-lor.com) and another for internal ornaments for peoples cars (www.Men-who-have-fluffy-dice-have-more-fun-one.com).

Obviously for sales via www.Volvo-bodykits-are-babe-magnets-lor.com they do not want invoices headed with "Singapore super one Japanese car body kits Pow". Do they need to register new companies to match the website brands (or be more aligned to the website brands) or can they use the website brand but put the underlying company details as required on a footer ?

The preference is not to change the original company name as it is the one signed up with multiple distributors and that process was a major PITA.

So how best to handle multiple brands via separate websites (one site selling everything is really not a direction I wish to go in due to a vast array of products in each market area) and, just as important probably, lock in brand ownership to the company.

If the question is of too big a scope to easily respond to then any direction on who to approach for advice would also be very welcome.

Many thanks
RB

[bensonlew]

Hi,

I am a SPR and have a Sole Proprietorship which was registered with ACRA under a name specific to an area in my market of interest. I intended to sell predominately on-line in Singapore. I now wish to expand to other areas within the same market and have registered separate websites, each aimed at these different areas. The website names (or versions of them) are the brands I wish to use for sales receipts, invoices etc. The question is, in order to do that do I need to register separate companies aligned with each website in order to be able to use the brand on invoices or can I use the brand and then have a line on the invoice stating something like "This website is run by XXXXX" and include the ACRA registration number for XXXXX. Note all websites are .com and not .com.sg or any other Singapore specific domain.

An example to try to help understanding and maybe bring a smile . Note, this is not my market area and I have nothing to do with any example websites if they happen to exist (I have not checked).

A company (Sole Proprietorship) offering Honda body kits for purchase and install calls their company "Singapore super one Japanese car body kits Pow" and registers a website (http://www.honda-body-kits-singapore-nu ... re-lah.com).

The distributors that this company gets parts from also sell parts for Volvo bodykits and internal items for any car brands like fluffy dice.

The company owner decides to expand to other products but chooses to register another website for selling Volvo bodykits (www.Volvo-bodykits-are-babe-magnets-lor.com) and another for internal ornaments for peoples cars (www.Men-who-have-fluffy-dice-have-more-fun-one.com).

Obviously for sales via www.Volvo-bodykits-are-babe-magnets-lor.com they do not want invoices headed with "Singapore super one Japanese car body kits Pow". Do they need to register new companies to match the website brands (or be more aligned to the website brands) or can they use the website brand but put the underlying company details as required on a footer ?

The preference is not to change the original company name as it is the one signed up with multiple distributors and that process was a major PITA.

So how best to handle multiple brands via separate websites (one site selling everything is really not a direction I wish to go in due to a vast array of products in each market area) and, just as important probably, lock in brand ownership to the company.

If the question is of too big a scope to easily respond to then any direction on who to approach for advice would also be very welcome.

Many thanks
RB

By Laws you have to if you want to issue under different name. Else all your invoice have to use one registered company. Otherwise you will have the issue with the accounting part later on.

[AusExpat]

A website name is not a company name unless you have registered the website name as a company. You can use your website name in the invoice, but it does not mean you have a valid invoice. My suggestion is to use both company name and invoice website name in documents.

[Mi Amigo]

So in other words, a person could register a Sole Proprietorship or Pte. Ltd. called something like "Joe Bloggs Online Adventures" and then run a number for websites, with invoices stating the specific website name and "Operated by Joe Bloggs Online Adventures." Correct?

RimBlock, just out of interest (and you obviously don't have to answer this if you don't want to), when you set up your SP, did you describe the business activities in terms of the specific market area that you were first involved with? Or did you just state something more generic like "online marketing"? I'm curious about how specific one has to be when setting up a SP or Pte. Ltd. for this type of activity.

[RimBlock]

Thanks for all the replies.

From the research I have done, it seems I can register the website names or more correctly, logo, as a trademark to protect that side of things.

I am hoping I can then have a note in the footer of the receipt / invoice etc about being owned and maintained by XXXX company (reg: XXXXX). I think this will keep all bases covered.

As it is a small starting business, all transactions are cash or bank transfer based with the odd cheque made out to me for now so no issues with cheques to the company name. Suppliers take orders from me via my underlying company and so no issues there. Would have to make the suppliers aware of the branding for warranties to be honoured with customers taking my receipts to the distributors under the different branding.

To make it a bit better to understand, I have a company selling computing solutions but would like to separate the different areas under different brands (PCs/Servers/Second hand & trade in). Hopefully this is not over the 'no advertising' line here. Having 3 companies registered all dealing with the same distributors for the same products seems a little counter productive especially when you get bulk discounts (so I hear) for greater volumes etc.

If needed I could create a structure of SPs all owned by myself that purchase from a single provisioning SP also owned by me which deals with all the distributors but that seems to be pretty complicated for what I hoped would be a fairly simple thing to get setup.

@Mi Amigo,
When registering you have to categorise from a list of activities. You then can add a description. Mine were retail computer hardware & software and IT integrated solutions or choices very similar.

RB

[Mi Amigo]

Thanks RB.

[Strong Eagle]

You are going to LOVE trying to register a trademark in Singapore... long, drawn out, and costly.

[RimBlock]

You are going to LOVE trying to register a trademark in Singapore... long, drawn out, and costly.

The costs didn't seem too bad at under S$400 for self filing but it will take 1-2months in total if all goes well. I can see it costing quite a bit if someone opposes the filing though or if they decide to use a lawyer / service company to deal with their application..

For anyone interested, the process flow is here. Beware, peach writing with pink flow boxes are not the easiest to read . Costs and forms are here.

RB

[Strong Eagle]

Just wait until IPOS asks you to clarify how your stated goods and services falls into the selected classes... or maybe asking for different language because of "confusion"... or rejecting samples of trademarks because they don't meet the law standards.

I am trade marked... the filing was easy... it was the next three months of back and forth that was the hassle.

[RimBlock]

Just wait until IPOS asks you to clarify how your stated goods and services falls into the selected classes... or maybe asking for different language because of "confusion"... or rejecting samples of trademarks because they don't meet the law standards.

I am trade marked... the filing was easy... it was the next three months of back and forth that was the hassle.

Yes, I can appreciate that complications and clarifications may cause delays and costs. The brand name is very simple so I would hope no confusions there, the goods and services should be pretty clear cut as well, the law standards may be a different matter . I guess I really should read the standards to make sure. I am sure it will help put me to sleep even if I don't want to.

Might just find out soonish as my Logo design project on one of the collabritive design websites is due to finish soon. The response has been quite good (60 submissions over 6 days). The cost is also pretty reasonable. After spending so long trying to come up with one I like myself and having the branding getting delayed, website getting delayed, advertising... well you get the point... I decided to go for it and started the project. Currently quite pleased with what is coming out of it. Business cards and stationary next .

I also raised a query with ACRA yesterday with regards branding and underlying business on receipts etc and the response has just this minute (or so) come back...

Yes I can brand the receipts, Invoices etc as long as I state somewhere that the underlying company is XXX and the ACRA reg number.

RB