For example, if your official name is Mary Poppins and your bookstore is called Mary Poppins` Books, it is not a DBA name. On the other hand, if you named your store Children`s Books and More, this is a DBA name. Typically, DBA names must be registered in the county where the business is located, often at the clerk`s office or the registry of deeds. Costs vary by location. For example, the fee in Arizona is $10, while Rhode Island charges $50. Registering a trademark has many benefits for your business and can prevent competitors from using your business assets. However, registering a trademark can also be complicated and expensive. Here we outline the main steps of the process and the associated costs so that you understand exactly how much it costs to protect a business name. We will also highlight ways to save money on trademark registration. When you register a new business, the name registration is usually included in the filing fee. These costs vary from state to state, but often amount to several hundred dollars. For example, LLCs and corporations pay $180 in Washington State and $300 in Texas.
This form — called a declaration of use or modification of alleged use — must generally be filed no later than six months after your first application is approved by the USPTO. The cost of filing this online form is $100 per category of goods or services. The most common state for registering a business is the state in which you want to operate. If your business is physically located in the state where you live and that`s where you work most or all the time, registering a business in your home state is usually the best option. As a general rule, sole proprietorships and partnerships are not required to register with the State as a legal person. However, there may be state and local requirements to apply for a retail license. VAT registration; or obtain a professional license for doctors, lawyers, and other government-regulated professions. Businesses may need to file a Doing Business As (DBA) application with a national or local government agency to use a trade or trade name, usually for a small fee. Once your business name has been registered, it can no longer be legally used by another person or entity. The process of registering a name at the federal level begins with conducting a trademark search to identify potential conflicts.
Did you know that there are more than 401,000 small businesses in Alabama? If you want to join the thousands of small businesses that thrive in the state, it`s relatively easy to register a new business in Alabama. The USPTO provides the public with an opportunity to respond to approved trademark applications. Another, usually larger and better-funded company could file an objection, claiming that the trademark should not be granted to you. An applicant may file only one trademark in a single application. The cost of filing an application is usually $250 to $350. Texas requires businesses operating with an assumed name to file an assumed name certificate with a county clerk`s office. Corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships must also file a separate certificate for aliases with the Texas Secretary of State. Each county charges its own fees, and starting in 2017, the secretary of state must charge $25 for each certificate. If you`re starting a new business, you`ll need to choose a name that can be used in your state and doesn`t go against another company`s brand.
Submit all applications online: The USPTO no longer allows you to file trademark applications on paper. Although TEAS takes a little getting used to, you can save a lot of money by submitting everything online. There are two levels of trademark registration in the United States: state and federal. Registering your company name trademark at the state level is relatively simple and inexpensive, but offers limited legal protection. On the other hand, registering your trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is more complicated and expensive, but offers much more legal protection. The official company name is the name you include on your registration forms. If you use a different name when interacting with customers, that name is the DBA name of your company. The DBA name must also be registered for an additional fee. Hire a trademark attorney: Getting legal representation right away, starting with a trademark search, can save you time and money.
As Ruth Carter, a trademark attorney in Phoenix, says, „It`s often worth hiring a lawyer to do the preliminary research to see if the trademark you`re trying to register is even available. I`ve seen people try to do it themselves and they ended up wasting $225 on filing fees to get a trademark they couldn`t have because they didn`t know how to do a thorough search. If your application is approved, the USPTO grants a trademark for your company name, receives federal protection against counterfeiting at the national level, and allows you to affix the popular ® symbol to your goods and services. Whichever filing method you choose, keep in mind that if the USPTO rejects your trademark application, you will not be refunded the filing fee. The cost of registering an LLC or corporation in Alabama is $200. In addition, you pay an annual registration/filing fee of at least $10 to the Alabama Secretary of State each year as long as you plan to keep your business running. The state fee for registering a non-profit organization is $200. The cost of registering a business name varies depending on national and local requirements and whether you are applying for a trademark trade name. You could spend several hundred dollars. TEAS RF is similar, except you don`t have to choose your products and services in advance. You can request a custom class of goods or services if you think your brand doesn`t fit well with one of the existing categories.
If your business only operates locally, registering with other state and federal government agencies can be unnecessary and costly. However, if you operate in multiple states, registering your company name as a trademark with the Patent and Trademark Office may be more prudent and cost-effective, as it prevents the use of the name nationally.