MARQ vs. LegalZoom
Looking for a LegalZoom alternative to register a trademark? MARQ is an attorney-led practice: flat $499 + USPTO fees at cost ($350/class), a comprehensive attorney search, and a client portal. Compare the two models.
The practical difference is the model. LegalZoom is a legal-services platform: you buy a package, and legal review is one feature inside a tiered product. MARQ is a law practice: a licensed U.S. trademark attorney does the search, the filing, and the office-action response, and the price is flat.
The short answer
LegalZoom is a large online legal-services platform with tiered packages and add-ons. MARQ Trademarks is an attorney-led law practice. With MARQ, a licensed U.S. trademark attorney runs a comprehensive clearance search (not a knockout search), prepares and files the application, and answers any office action. Federal registration is a flat $499 legal fee plus USPTO government fees of $350 per class, billed at cost — $849 all-in for a single class. No packages, no add-ons, no subscriptions.
| MARQ Trademarks | LegalZoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A licensed U.S. trademark attorney, on every file | Platform-managed filing with attorney involvement depending on the package you buy |
| Search depth | Comprehensive clearance search with a written likelihood-of-confusion opinion ($49) | Search offerings vary by tier; knockout-style searches are common at entry tiers |
| Legal fee | Flat $499 for federal registration | Tiered package pricing, plus add-ons |
| USPTO fees | $350 per class, passed through at cost, no markup | Government fees charged in addition to package price |
| Upsells | None | Add-ons and subscriptions are part of the model |
| Status visibility | Client portal with real-time application status and attorney messaging | Account dashboard |
When LegalZoom may be the better fit
If your mark is plainly distinctive, you have already cleared it, you sell in one obvious class, and you are comfortable handling a refusal yourself, a cheaper filing route can work. Being honest about that is part of being a law practice rather than a sales funnel.
When attorney-led is worth it
Choose an attorney when the name is close to something already out there, when the mark is descriptive of what you sell, when you need Amazon Brand Registry and the class has to be right, when you are filing intent-to-use before launch, or when an office action has already landed. Those are the moments when judgment — not a form — decides whether you end up with a registration.
Comparison reflects each provider’s publicly described service model as of July 2026. Competitor pricing and packages change — check their site for current terms. MARQ’s prices are stated in full on our pricing page. Company names are the trademarks of their respective owners; MARQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any company named here.
DIY Search
- Instant USPTO federal search
- Availability signal & close matches
- No account or card
Pro Search Report
- Attorney-reviewed comprehensive search
- Likelihood-of-confusion analysis
- Submit your name & logo
- Clear go / no-go guidance
Complete Registration
- Full federal application, filed by an attorney
- Comprehensive search included
- USPTO filing & status monitoring
- Client portal access
- USPTO fee $350/class, at cost
Office Action Response
- $499 procedural responses
- $999 substantive refusals
- Attorney-drafted & filed
- Upload your office action
Trademark Monitoring
- Automated USPTO watch service
- Alerts on conflicting new filings
- Annual subscription — cancel anytime
- No manual back-and-forth
Ready to register your mark?
Start with the free search — no card, no account. Then file with a real attorney for a flat $499 + USPTO fees.
Run a free searchSee full pricing