How much does it cost to file a trademark?
The USPTO fee is only part of the number. Here's what actually goes into the total, and how Twin Cities Trademarks keeps it predictable.
SHORT ANSWER
The USPTO charges a base filing fee of $350 per class of goods or services. A clean, correctly prepared single-class application costs $350 in government fees alone; a mistake in the description or incomplete information can add $100–$200 or more per class in surcharges. On top of that, attorney fees for preparing and filing the application vary by firm -- Twin Cities Trademarks prices this as a single flat fee, so there's no hourly surprise.
USPTO FEE BREAKDOWN
What the federal government actually charges
These are the current USPTO fees, per class of goods or services, under the fee structure that took effect January 18, 2025.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Base application fee | $350 / class | Standard rate using a pre-approved USPTO ID Manual description with complete information |
| Insufficient information surcharge | +$100 / class | Required fields left incomplete at filing |
| Custom description surcharge | +$200 / class | Goods/services description not selected from the USPTO ID Manual |
| Long-description surcharge | +$200 / class | Each additional 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000 in your description |
USPTO filing fees are non-refundable, even if the application is later refused. Fees shown are per class -- a two-class application pays each fee twice. Verify current figures at uspto.gov before filing; USPTO fees are subject to change.
WHY TWIN CITIES TRADEMARKS
What you're actually paying for beyond the USPTO fee
The government fee is fixed no matter who files. What varies is who's preparing your application and how much it costs to work with them.
A real, local law firm
Twin Cities Trademarks is a licensed Minnesota law firm, not a document-processing service or an out-of-state form mill. You're working with an actual trademark attorney under USPTO Customer Number 044341, not a call center reading from a script.
Extremely competitive pricing
The firm was built specifically for budget-conscious clients who want proper legal representation without paying big-firm hourly rates. Flat-fee pricing means the number you're quoted is the number you pay.
Fast turnaround -- filed in as little as 24 hours
Once your intake and search are complete, Twin Cities Trademarks can prepare and file your application in as little as 24 hours. You're not waiting weeks for a firm to get to your file.
Free consultation with a seasoned trademark lawyer
The initial phone consultation is free and it's with an actual experienced trademark attorney, not a sales rep or paralegal. You get a real answer about your situation before you spend anything.
LOCAL TO THE TWIN CITIES
Minnesota pricing, without a Minneapolis downtown-office premium
Twin Cities Trademarks works with founders and small businesses across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, mostly by phone and online, which keeps overhead -- and your bill -- lower than a traditional downtown firm.
Twin Cities Trademarks1660 121st Ave NW, Suite 1
Coon Rapids, MN 55448
(651) 222-3776
- Minneapolis -- startups comparing filing costs before choosing a firm
- St. Paul -- retailers and restaurants budgeting for a name launch
- Coon Rapids & Anoka County -- home base, walk-in and phone consultations
- Greater Minnesota -- statewide clients handled remotely, since filing is federal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cost questions we hear most
How much does the USPTO charge to file a trademark application?
The base filing fee is $350 per class of goods or services, in effect since the USPTO's fee restructuring on January 18, 2025. That rate applies when you use a pre-approved description from the USPTO's Trademark ID Manual and submit complete information. A two-class application at the base rate costs $700 in USPTO fees alone.
Are there hidden fees when filing a trademark?
The USPTO adds surcharges on top of the base fee in specific cases: $100 per class for incomplete information, $200 per class for a custom description not pulled from the ID Manual, and $200 per class for every extra 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000. A poorly prepared application can run $550 or more per class instead of $350.
How much does a trademark lawyer cost on top of USPTO fees?
It varies by firm -- anywhere from a few hundred dollars flat-fee to well over a thousand billed hourly on a contested filing. Twin Cities Trademarks prices its filings as a single flat fee covering the search, preparation, and filing, so you know the total cost before you commit.
Is trademark filing a one-time cost?
No. A registered trademark requires maintenance filings between years five and six after registration, and again every ten years, each with its own USPTO fee. If your application draws an Office Action, that may involve additional attorney time depending on how your representation is structured.
Does Twin Cities Trademarks charge hourly or flat-fee?
Flat-fee. The firm was built for clients who want a predictable total cost rather than an hourly bill that's hard to estimate in advance.
How fast can Twin Cities Trademarks file my trademark application?
Once your intake and search are complete, the firm can prepare and file your application in as little as 24 hours. USPTO examination afterward still takes several months regardless of who files, but the firm's own turnaround on getting your application submitted is fast.
Get a real number, not a range -- talk to an attorney first.
The free consultation is with an actual seasoned trademark lawyer, and it costs nothing to find out what your specific filing would run.