The search is on again for Britain’s best small business name. Insurance company Simply Business has teamed up with comedian to look at companies in the running for the title and the £2,500 cash prize. Voting is now open to the public to choose their winner before voting closes on May 13
The full shortlist for 2024 is:
| Business Name | Business Type | Location |
| Barber Streisand | Barbers | London |
| Easy Lay Landscaping | Landscaping | Milton Keynes |
| Furry Godmothers | Dog groomers | Newport |
| Lord Of The Bins | Waste clearance | Brighton |
| Poke Nom | Hawaiian Street food | London |
| Prints Charming | Printing shop | Fife |
| Surelock Homes Locksmiths | Locksmiths | Hastings |
| Thready or Knott Embroidery | Embroidery shop | Chester |
| Tikka Chance On Me | Indian-inspired street food | Manchester |
| Top Of The Clops | Equestrian shop | Somerset |
Research by Simply Business revealed that a witty or funny business name has a significant role in helping small businesses succeed – with half (51%) of consumers saying they’re likely (35%) or very likely (16%) to shop at a small business with a funny or witty business name. Almost two thirds (65%) of consumers say a funny or witty business name tells them a business is imaginative and original. Moreover four in five (81%) consumers prefer to shop with a small or local business over a large, well-known, international business.
Bea Montoya, COO at Simply Business said: “We’ve seen many memorable entries to this year’s Britain’s Best Small Business Name competition, and it’s a credit to the creativity and innovation of the nation’s SME owners. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and this competition sums up the wonderful spirit and humour that they bring to their businesses every day. We’re delighted to be able to award one small business owner with the £2,500 cash prize, particularly as all SMEs are facing an incredibly challenging set of circumstances in the current economic environment.”
Darren Walsh, comedian said: “Puns and wordplay seem to have a special place in British culture, so it’s heartening to see that type of humour is central to the names of so many small businesses. It’s been a tough job to whittle down the thousands of entries to a shortlist of ten, but I’m sure these business names will trigger a few involuntary laughs from the public.”
