[Solved] Facebook Difficulty - Two businesses with almost the same name?

Hi All,
Question
Are there any facebook experts around that might be able to help me figure out how to create a facebook page when my company name is almost the same as another business?

Details
I started a side business a while back called The Maine Ingredient LLC. I had searched around and found nothing while searching the Internet except a TV show episode and a cookbook so I figured it was safe to use. I also found nothing registered with the state. So I registered and prepared all my branding. After the fact, I found out that there is a catering company called The Maine Ingredient (no LLC) with a facebook page. They have been around longer, but I have the legal side, because I registered the name with the state properly.

The issue is that I have been told by multiple marketing people that I ought to create a facebook page. I finally gave in and created a personal account, so that I could create the business page. When I go to create the business page, I am informed that it does not meet the community guidelines... and nothing else. The only information submitted is the name of the page, along with the fact that it is in the food and drink category. My assumption is that it is too close to this other company's name. I cannot find any way to contact facebook to ask. And I have tried several variations, including the LLC... making it all one word, adding "official" to it. And I am still unable to create the page.

Does anyone have any ideas? Different formats for the name to be in? A way to contact Facebook to explain we are two different entities? A way to figure out if that is in fact the issue?

I'm a Facebook user, but not a "page" owner. So I'm not really any use. But I've dealt with them enough to know how much it sucks to need some kind of support. Good luck!

It would be a good idea for you to secure your business name.

To do this you would registering the name with your state. This is necessary for legal formation but offers limited, local protection.

Dear hubby had a business which I had registered and then someone else started using the same name.  I contacted the name registration dept and those folks had to change their name.

Anne Miller wrote:It would be a good idea for you to secure your business name.

To do this you would registering the name with your state. This is necessary for legal formation but offers limited, local protection.

Dear hubby had a business which I had registered and then someone else started using the same name.  I contacted the name registration dept and those folks had to change their name.

I have registered with the state. I didn't really want to make a thing of it, unless I need to. They have been around a long time using that name apparently... but never registered it.

My web searches quickly took over their page. Now they barely show up, compared to me. I'm not sure if there would be crossover in real life much. I hate to go through the legal side and then still not get a facebook page

I think you are probably right. Someone is using 'the maine ingredient' as their business name on Facebook. It looks like they are a sort of dinner delivery company....You could try contacting them, pointing out that they don't have the legal right to that name and see if you can somehow take the pager over (I think that you can add 'admins' to a page for management). Another option is to report the page to Facebook and see if you can get the page removed as it is using your legal name...Neither approach is going to be easy. I'd go with #1 first, see if they are reasonable (you could always put a forwarding note in for their previous customers) and if not #2.

I'm not keen on Facebook - I did the same as you 15 years ago and made a FB account so I could set up a page for my shop, but really found it not of use for that at all! - I get more leads through google maps, but it guess it depends on your business and how hard you work at it (FB). I would also recommend checking any 'free' advertisements that you are offered by Facebook, as sometimes they turn out to be not so free.....

Nancy Reading wrote:(I think that you can add 'admins' to a page for management).

Kind a neat approach would be to share the account. There might well be reasons that's crazy, but what if you log on to post stuff about spices and they log on to post stuff about their next popup? Maybe you each link to the other's webpage from your own. Not threatening them would be a really cool solution...if it works.

Their page is The Maine Ingredient.

Did you try: Maine Ingredient, LLC to see if that would work.

Leaving off the THE.

Anne Miller wrote:Their page is The Maine Ingredient.

Did you try: Maine Ingredient, LLC to see if that would work.

Leaving off the THE.

Woohoo! This did it. I tried so many variations, but I never tried leaving the "The" off it. I was able to create the page Thank you very much Anne. Extra apples for helping me solve a problem that has been frustrating me for more than a week.

I am so glad that worked.  Why did you not ask sooner?

Anne Miller wrote:I am so glad that worked.  Why did you not ask sooner?

Probably just stubborn  Figured I could find the answer eventually if I kept searching.