How to register a trademark, in four steps
Search, verify, file, protect. Flat $499 + USPTO fees ($350 per class, at cost). Typical time to registration: 8–14 months.
Registering a U.S. trademark takes four steps: search the USPTO, get an attorney clearance opinion, file the application, and protect the mark through examination. Filing happens within days of you giving us the details; the USPTO then takes roughly 8 to 14 months to examine, publish, and register a straightforward application. The all-in cost through MARQ is $499 in legal fees plus $350 per class in USPTO government fees — $849 for a single class.
Search
Run the free DIY search to gut-check availability in seconds.
Verify
Order the $49 attorney report for a real clearance opinion before you spend.
File
We prepare and file your application with the USPTO for a flat $499 + fees.
Protect
We monitor your application and handle any office actions that come up.
Our straight-shooter guarantee
If our search shows your mark can't be filed responsibly, we tell you before you pay to file. If we can't file your application at all, you get a full refund. No doomed filings, no surprise fees, USPTO costs always at cost.
Frequently asked
How long does trademark registration take?
Straightforward applications typically register in roughly 8 to 14 months. The USPTO examines your filing, publishes it for opposition, and — if there are no issues — registers it. Filing correctly the first time avoids the delays an office action causes.
What is the difference between the TM and R symbols?
You can use TM (or SM for services) on any mark you claim, even without a registration. The R-in-a-circle symbol may only be used once your mark is federally registered with the USPTO.
Do I have to register in every country?
No — a U.S. registration protects you in the United States. If you sell abroad, you can extend protection to other countries, often through the Madrid Protocol based on your U.S. filing.
Is my payment and information secure?
Yes. Payments run through Stripe with bank-level encryption; we never see or store your card number. Your trademark details are stored securely and only used to prepare your filing.
Do I really work with a real attorney?
Every application is prepared and filed by a licensed U.S. trademark attorney — led by owner and lead attorney Mary Liberty. You are not filling out a form on your own.
What does "$499 + USPTO fees" actually mean?
Our flat legal fee is $499. The USPTO charges a separate government filing fee (currently $350 per class of goods/services). We bill that at cost — we never mark it up.
What if my trademark is already taken?
If our search turns up a conflict that makes filing unwise, we'll tell you before you pay to file — and help you explore alternatives. No filing a doomed application just to collect a fee.
How long does registration take?
Filing is fast — usually within days. The USPTO review process itself typically takes several months to a year, which is outside anyone's control. We monitor your application the whole way.
What is an office action?
It's an official letter from the USPTO raising an issue with your application. Procedural ones ($499 to respond) are usually simple; substantive refusals ($999) need a legal argument. We handle both.