“Firm” Alternatives

01 Jul

Posted by Andy Brudtkuhl under Business

I am looking for an alternative to the word “firm” in description of my business. When people asks what my company does, I am forced to say “we are a web strategy and consulting firm”. I hate the connotations associated with the term “firm” in reference to my company. When I think of “firm”, I think…

sounds stuffy and too old school - “law firm”, “marketing firm”, “brokerage firm”, “design firm” - we are new school
sounds expensive - we have a la carte
sounds bureaucratic - we are agile
sounds “corporationy” - we are anti-corporation
sounds big - we are small, for a reason
sounds fluffy - we are pragmatic
sounds preachy - we don’t preach, we teach

What are your ideas for an alternative to the term “firm”. What do you use to describe your company? Are we stupid for thinking this? Let us know in the comments…

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Tags: Business

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11 Responses

Andrew B. Clark

July 1st, 2008 at 7:54 am
1

since you “guide” and “create” web/interactive solutions, why don’t you use “Mentor” or “Facilitator”

e.g. - we’re Web Solutions Facilitators; or We mentor our clients to effective web and interactive solutions…

Just ideas.

Andrew
Andy Brudtkuhl

July 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am
2

I like faciliator, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue very well.
Kathy Landin

July 1st, 2008 at 9:29 am
3

Enterprise?
Andy Brudtkuhl

July 1st, 2008 at 9:39 am
4

@Kathy - eew Enterprise
Kenneth Younger

July 1st, 2008 at 9:50 am
5

How about a Collective?
Andy Brudtkuhl

July 1st, 2008 at 10:07 am
6

Collective - Not bad. Sounds a tad socialist :) but I like the connotations.
Kenneth Younger

July 1st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
7

Yeah, I almost hesitated saying that - my libertarian side did not prevail though.

Is Consultancy a word?
Kenneth Younger

July 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
8

It is. I like it.
BornLiar

July 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
9

how about \"gurus\" or just \"group\"?
Andy Brudtkuhl

July 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
10

i like group, consultancy, and gurus…. leaning towards guru, being that my title is “chief web guru”….
Mike Templeton

August 7th, 2008 at 1:58 am
11

I talk about Dosovo as being a marketing and web strategy consultancy, mostly because it clearly illustrates the consultative approach.

I actually don’t mind firm myself, but I see where you’re coming from.