You have finally settled on a business name you love. Maybe the logo is finished, the website is taking shape, and customers are beginning to recognize the brand. Then comes the question many business owners eventually ask: How much does it really cost to file a trademark?
The simple answer is that the current federal filing fee starts at $350. A more useful answer is that $350 may not be the final cost. The number of trademark classes you need, whether you are already using the mark, and even how you describe your products or services can affect what you ultimately pay.
Understanding those costs before filing can prevent some unpleasant surprises.
Why Isn’t There One Flat Trademark Filing Fee?
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, charges trademark application fees according to the number of classes of goods or services included in the application.
The current base application fee is $350 per class.
That word “class” is important.
The USPTO organizes goods and services into 45 international classes. A business selling one type of product may need only one class. Another company using the same brand for products, retail services, training, and software could potentially need several.
For example, the USPTO explains that golf shirts, dress shirts, and T-shirts fall within the same class. However, adding custom T-shirt printing services brings another class into the application. Instead of a $350 base fee, the government filing fees would start at $700.
That is why business size doesn’t necessarily determine filing cost. What the business sells or does matters much more.
Can the USPTO Charge More Than $350 Per Class?
Yes. Changes that took effect in 2025 replaced the old TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard filing options with one base application system. The USPTO can now assess additional fees when an application is incomplete or requires certain additional examination.
For example, an applicant may currently face:
- A $100 per-class fee when required application information is missing
- A $200 per-class fee for using the free-form text box instead of selecting an identification of goods or services from the USPTO’s Trademark ID Manual
- An additional $200 per affected class for each additional 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000 in certain free-form descriptions
That makes preparing the application correctly more than an administrative detail. How goods and services are identified can affect both the scope of protection and the amount paid to the USPTO.
You can review the USPTO’s current trademark fee information for the latest federal charges.
What If You Haven’t Started Using the Trademark Yet?
You do not necessarily have to wait until your product or service launches to apply for federal trademark registration.
An intent-to-use application may be available when you have a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce but have not started doing so yet. Patton Law Group has previously discussed why filing before a business launches can help protect branding before you spend significant money on signs, packaging, websites, and advertising.
Intent-to-use applications can also involve additional government fees.
Before registration, you must eventually show that the mark is actually being used in commerce. The current fee for filing an Amendment to Allege Use or Statement of Use is $150 per class.
If you are not ready to file the Statement of Use after the USPTO issues a Notice of Allowance, a six-month extension currently costs $125 per class.
Ultimately, an intent-to-use filing can cost more over its lifetime than an application for a mark that is already in use.
What About the Cost of a Trademark Search?
The government filing fee is only one part of the financial picture that you’ll need to weigh.
Before submitting an application, determine whether another business already owns a potentially conflicting trademark. Finding a problem before filing is much better than discovering it after you have invested money, because you don’t want to lose money.
A trademark search can look beyond exact matches. Similar spelling, pronunciation, meaning, or commercial impression can create problems, so you’ll want to cover those.
Simply searching Google or checking domain availability can fall short. Trademark conflicts are based on more than whether two names are identical.
There is no set cost because costs vary so much.
Talk to Patton Law Group About Trademark Registration
So, how much does it really cost to file a trademark? For a straightforward federal application in one class, the USPTO base filing fee is currently $350. Multiple classes, intent-to-use filings, application deficiencies, extensions, Office Actions, and future maintenance can substantially increase the cost.
The better question is not simply what it costs to submit an application, but what it takes to protect the brand correctly.
If you are starting a business, developing a new brand, or wondering whether to federally register your name or logo, contact Patton Law Group. The firm can help you evaluate your trademark, understand the filing process, and make informed decisions before you invest further in your brand.
