=COUNT(1/IF(NOT(ISNUMBER(FIND("ABC",A2:A100))),MATCH($A$2:$ A$10,$A$2:$A$10,0)=ROW($A$2:$A$10)-ROW($A$2)+1))

which is an array formula, it should be committed with Ctrl-Shift-Enter, not
just Enter.
Excel will automatically enclose the formula in braces (curly brackets), do
not try to do this manually.
When editing the formula, it must again be array-entered.

--
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a column of client names with some that I don't want to count.
I am able to count the number of unique clients. Is there a way to
exclude the names I don't want from the count of the total clients? I
need to wild card the names I don't want as they are entered in
multiple ways. So essentially I want a formula that will answer the
question:
How many unique clients do I have excluding any with 'ABC' in their
name?

Thanks