Question 1

How much does it cost to trademark a name or logo in the US?

Accepted Answer

As of the January 18, 2025 USPTO fee schedule, the base electronic filing fee is $350 per class of goods or services. A one-class application using pre-approved wording costs $350 in government fees. Two classes cost $700, three cost $1,050, and so on. Surcharges add $100 per class for incomplete applications and $200 per class for custom (free-form) descriptions.

Question 2

What is the difference between TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard?

Accepted Answer

TEAS Plus ($250 per class) and TEAS Standard ($350 per class) were the two old filing tiers. Both were retired on January 18, 2025 and replaced with a single base fee of $350 per class plus avoidable surcharges. Any guide still quoting $250 TEAS Plus is out of date — that tier no longer exists.

Question 3

How much does a trademark cost per class?

Accepted Answer

Every USPTO fee is charged per Nice class, not per application. Filing is $350 per class; a Statement of Use is $150 per class; the Section 8 declaration (years 5–6) is $325 per class; and each 10-year renewal is $325 per class. A 10-year total cost of ownership for one class is $1,000 in government fees ($350 + $325 + $325), or $1,150 if you file intent-to-use and later submit a Statement of Use.

Question 4

How do I find the right trademark class for my product?

Accepted Answer

Trademarks use the Nice Classification: 45 classes total (1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services). Describe your product in the Class Finder tab above and it will match your description against curated keywords for all 45 classes. Common examples: clothing is Class 25, software and apps are Class 9, restaurant services are Class 43, and cosmetics are Class 3. Most brands need 1–2 classes; filing in a class you do not actually use in wastes money and can weaken the registration.

Question 5

Can one trademark cover multiple classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A single US application can list any number of the 45 Nice classes, but you pay the full fee for each one — $350 per class at filing, plus $325 per class at every maintenance deadline. There is no bulk discount, so only claim classes where you genuinely use (or, for intent-to-use filings, have a bona fide intent to use) the mark.

Question 6

How much does a trademark attorney cost?

Accepted Answer

For a straightforward US filing, trademark attorneys commonly charge a flat fee of roughly $750–$2,000 per class on top of the $350-per-class government fee. Online filing services charge about $99–$299 plus government fees but are not law firms and cannot give legal advice. Filing yourself costs only the government fees — but you take on the clearance search, the identification wording, and any office-action responses yourself.

Question 7

Should I do a trademark search before filing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — always. The USPTO filing fee is non-refundable, so filing on a mark that is already taken (or is confusingly similar to an existing registration) means losing the full $350 per class. A proper clearance search checks the USPTO database, state registries, and common-law (unregistered) uses. Attorneys include this in their flat fee; DIY filers should at minimum search the USPTO database before paying.

Question 8

How much does it cost to renew a trademark?

Accepted Answer

A US registration must be maintained: a Section 8 declaration of use ($325 per class) is due between years 5 and 6, and a combined Section 8 + Section 9 renewal ($650 per class total) is due every 10 years. Miss the window and there is a 6-month grace period with an additional surcharge; miss that and the registration is cancelled. Use the Renewal Planner tab to compute your exact deadlines from your registration date.

Question 9

What are Section 8, Section 9, and Section 15?

Accepted Answer

Section 8 is the declaration (with a specimen) that you are still using the mark, due in years 5–6 ($325 per class). Section 9 is the 10-year renewal ($325 per class, filed together with another Section 8). Section 15 ($250 per class) is an optional declaration of incontestability available after 5 years of continuous use, which strengthens the registration against certain challenges.

Question 10

How much does an international trademark cost?

Accepted Answer

There are two paths. Filing directly in each country means paying each national office separately — for example roughly €850 for one class at the EUIPO or £170 at the UKIPO (estimates; verify current fees). The Madrid Protocol lets you extend one application to 130+ countries through WIPO: the WIPO basic fee is CHF 653 plus about CHF 100 per designated country, and many countries then add their own individual fees. The Multi-Country tab estimates both paths.

Question 11

What is the Madrid Protocol?

Accepted Answer

The Madrid Protocol is a treaty that lets you file one international application (through your home office) designating 130+ member countries, instead of hiring counsel in each country separately. The USPTO-side fee for a Section 66(a) Madrid application is $600 per class. It simplifies filing and renewals, but each designated country still examines the mark under its own law and can refuse it.

Question 12

Should I form an LLC or trademark first — and what does each cost?

Accepted Answer

They protect completely different things. An LLC (typically $50–$500 in state fees) shields your personal assets; a trademark ($350 per class in USPTO fees) protects your brand name and logo nationwide. Registering an LLC name with your state gives you zero trademark rights. If you are already selling under the brand, file the trademark first — US rights go to whoever uses the mark in commerce first. Compare full LLC costs with our companion tool: nrtechstudio.com/llc-cost-lab.

Question 13

Do I need a trademark if I have an LLC?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, if the brand matters. An LLC registration only stops another LLC from registering the identical name in the same state — it does not stop anyone in another state from using your brand, and it gives you no federal rights. A federal trademark gives you nationwide priority, the ® symbol, a basis for fighting infringers on marketplaces, and a path to international protection.

Question 14

How long does trademark registration take?

Accepted Answer

The USPTO currently takes roughly 8–12 months from filing to registration for a straightforward application with no office actions or oppositions. Intent-to-use applications take longer because registration waits until you file the Statement of Use ($150 per class). Budget the full timeline — not just the fee — when planning a launch.

Question 15

What happens if my trademark application is refused?

Accepted Answer

The examining attorney issues an office action explaining the refusal (common reasons: likelihood of confusion with an existing mark, or the mark is merely descriptive). You generally have 3 months to respond, and responses are free to file yourself — but a weak response can doom the application. This is the stage where having an attorney earns its fee. Filing fees are never refunded, even if the application is ultimately refused.

Question 16

Is this tool legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. The Trademark Cost Lab provides educational cost estimates computed from the published USPTO fee schedule (effective January 18, 2025) and clearly-marked estimates for other countries. It is not legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Trademark law is fact-specific — consult a licensed trademark attorney before filing, especially for valuable brands, complex identifications, or international strategy.

Fee	Amount	Per	Source
Base application (§1 / §44)	$350	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Insufficient-information surcharge	$100	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Free-form ID surcharge	$200	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Each extra 1,000 chars of free-form ID	$200	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Statement of Use / Amendment to Allege Use	$150	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Madrid §66(a) application	$600	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Section 8 declaration (years 5–6)	$325	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Section 9 renewal (every 10 years)	$325	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Section 15 incontestability	$250	class	USPTO 2025 schedule
Retired January 18, 2025: TEAS Plus $250/class and TEAS Standard $350/class no longer exist. Guides quoting them are out of date.

Trademark Cost Lab

45-Class Finder

All 45 Nice classes — tap to select

USPTO Fee Schedule Calculator

Full USPTO fee schedule (electronic filing)

10-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Multi-Country Estimator

Attorney vs DIY Comparator

Trademark vs LLC — cost & order

™ Trademark — from $350/class

🏢 LLC — $50–$500+/state

Compare full LLC costs by state

Renewal Deadline Planner

Methodology & data sources

Frequently asked questions

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