5 Franchises with Creative Names

(cover photo courtesy of  Men in Kilts) The single most important piece of branding any company owns is its name, so what better way to make a lasting impression than with a creative brand name? Whether it's a clever play on words or subtly suggestive, a unique name can catch the eye of entrepreneurs and consumers alike. A brand's name also sets the tone for the company's culture--a fun name often means a fun company. We picked five of our favorite brand names from within the franchising community. Think we missed one? Let us know in the comments!

1. DoodyCalls

The pet care industry is exploding with franchises, but not many have a name as memorable as DoodyCalls. As you might imagine, their specialty lies in pet waste management for residential and commercial clients. And though the concept and services they offer may not be one-of-a-kind, their name will be the one you remember when you reach for the phone.

2. We Do Lines

The name says it all - We Do Lines is a Connecticut-based line striping company with services ranging from handicap spaces and parking lot work to airport runway lines. The company’s name has earned founders Chris Couri, Dan Rella and Tom Darrow plenty of attention from media and entrepreneurs alike. The free publicity coupled with a unique concept has helped them double the size of their system since 2009.

3. Hooters

Despite the occasional public image problem or lawsuit, it's hard to argue with Hooters' success, in no small part due to its name. There aren't a lot of things we would trade for the opportunity to go back in time and be in the room when the name was dreamed up. Brilliant yet bordering on tacky, the name is emblematic of the brand as a whole.

4. Men in Kilts

To get the full effect for this one, you need to know their full name: Men in Kilts Window Cleaning. It's okay, the name caught us off guard as well. To top it off, they deliver on the name and actually perform commercial and residential window cleaning wearing kilts. Small word of advice to those researching the brand - beware Google image search.

5. Maui Wowi Hawaiian

If you're a fan of rap or stoner films, you might have the wrong idea about Maui Wowi Hawaiian. The decidedly more legal business model focuses on coffee, lattes and fresh fruit smoothies, with many of the core ingredients coming directly from the Hawaiian Islands of Kona, Molokai, Kauai and Maui. A variety of build-out options and some impressive growth numbers make Maui Wowi more than a catchy name. by Brian Diggelmann