The cheapest way to get a trademark

As a startup or small business, you always have more things to spend money on than money to spend. It’s thus smart to save where you can to keep your business moving forward.

If you are looking to save money while applying for a trademark, this post is for you. Here we will cover the cheapest ways you can use to file a trademark and how much it will cost you.

But before we get started, let’s first take a quick look at what trademarks are and what they are used for.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a type of intellectual property that allows a company to protect its brand by protecting elements that identify its products or services. Trademarks are often used to protect items such as the name of your business, a product name, a logo, or a catchphrase.

What’s the cheapest way to get a trademark?

1. Apply yourself

The cheapest way to file for a trademark is simply to do it yourself. You can start by searching for the United States Patent and Trademark Office's State (USPTO) website. Then file out the online forms and pay their fees. The process will cost you 300usd.

There are videos on YouTube you can watch in case you need help during the process.

While it is certainly cheap, it is not always the best to approach a trademark application, especially if you haven’t done it before. There is a lot that could go wrong and one simple mistake can cost you hundreds or thousands to fix. So this takes us to our second point;

2) Using DIY services from legal websites

Using DIY services from legal sites such as Snap Legal, Rocket Lawyer, and Millar IP Law is the second cheapest way to file for a trademark. 

Our DIY trademark services are competitive in terms of cost and are detailed enough to guide you through the application process. This will ensure that you’ll only have to pay 100 dollars more when filing your trademark application.

DIY services, however, are not meant to be a replacement for a lawyer but are a far better option than simply googling your way through a trademark application. If you get it right using DIY services you increase your odds of having a more valuable trademark. But, if you get it wrong, you can end up making a costly mistake when applying for the trademark.

3) Hire an attorney at a smaller law firm

The third and best way to get a cheap trademark is to hire a solo attorney or a small law firm.

Most solo attorneys or small law firms will often charge less compared to big law firms. This is because they don’t have high overhead costs and are generally looking to serve more clients and grow their businesses.

When choosing a solo attorney or a small law firm, it is important to ensure they are experienced in IP law. Do a bit of homework to ensure they have been filing trademarks for a while before using their services. 

Conclusion

While DIY services are a cheap way to file for a trademark application, there is a lot that could go wrong- especially if you are new to the process. We recommend choosing a solo attorney or an attorney at a smaller law firm if you are looking to save some money when acquiring a trademark for your brand.

If you have any questions on trademark applications, reach out to us at Millar IP Law, and we will be happy to help you out. Otherwise, good luck with your business.