Trademark search
Know whether your mark is clear before you invest in it
A clearance search tells you whether a similar mark already stands in your way, and how strong your mark will be if you file. It is the first step in every registration we handle.
Flat fee
$1,000
attorney fee, trademark clearance search, ordered on its own
- Trademark registration, single class: $1,750 plus $350 per class minimum USPTO
The search is included in every registration package. On its own, it is a flat $1,000.
USPTO government fees are billed at cost and are not part of the attorney fee. The base application fee is $350 per class. The USPTO adds surcharges of $200 per class for a description not taken from its ID Manual, $100 per class for an incomplete application, and $200 per class for each additional 1,000 characters of description. We use ID Manual descriptions wherever they fit, which avoids the largest surcharge.
Why search first
Rebranding after you have printed packaging, built a website, and earned reviews is expensive. A search before you file, or before you launch, is the cheapest point to find a conflict. It also shapes the application itself, because the way you describe your goods and services affects how the examiner compares your mark with others.
The search is included in our registration package, so the advice and the filing come from the same review. If you are still choosing between names, you can order the search on its own first.
What is included
- Search of federal registrations and pending applications
- Review of similar spellings, sounds, and meanings in related classes
- Strength of mark analysis
- A plain-language recommendation: file, adjust, or choose another mark
Questions we hear often
What is the difference between a knockout search and a clearance search?
A knockout search is a quick check for identical or obviously similar marks. A clearance search goes further, looking at similar spellings, sounds, and meanings in related goods and services, and ends with an attorney opinion on risk.
Can I just search the USPTO database myself?
You can, and it is a good first step. The harder part is judging similarity: the USPTO refuses marks that are likely to cause confusion, not only exact matches. That judgment is what the attorney review adds.
Is the search included in registration?
Yes. Every registration package starts with a clearance search and a strength of mark analysis. If you want the search on its own, for example before committing to a name, it is $1,000.
Next step
Book a consultation
Pick a time that suits you. We will talk through your mark, answer your questions, and tell you the flat fee before any work begins.