A trademark application needs more than a name you like.
The USPTO won't accept a good idea — it needs a specific mark, a specific list of goods or services, the right class, a filing basis, and often proof you're already using it. Miss one piece and you're looking at delays or an office action. Here's the full list, and how Twin Cities Trademarks handles it for you.
Call or text (651) 222-3776 for a free consultation before you file anything.
What the USPTO actually requires
Every complete trademark application comes down to five or six pieces of information. Miss one, and the application either gets rejected outright or comes back with an office action that adds months to the process.
The mark itself
The exact word, phrase, logo, or design you want to protect — filed the way you actually use it, not a cleaned-up version.
A description of goods or services
A precise list of what the mark covers. Too broad and the USPTO pushes back; too narrow and you leave gaps a competitor can fill.
The correct international class
The USPTO sorts every good and service into one of 45 classes. Filing in the wrong class is one of the most common reasons applications stall.
Your filing basis
Whether you're already using the mark in commerce, or filing intent-to-use to reserve it before launch. Each path has different requirements and timing.
A specimen of use
If you're already using the mark, you need proof: a labeled product, packaging, or a website page showing the mark next to what you sell.
Owner information and the USPTO fee
The legal name of the individual or entity that owns the mark, plus the government filing fee, charged per class.
Why Minnesota business owners file through Twin Cities Trademarks
Twin Cities Trademarks is a real Minnesota firm, built to gather every piece of your application correctly the first time and file it directly with the USPTO under a verifiable customer number.
Coon Rapids Office
1660 121st Ave NW, Suite 1
Coon Rapids, MN 55448
St. Paul Office
381 Kellogg Blvd. East
St. Paul, MN 55101
USPTO Customer Number
044341 — on file with the USPTO for direct, verifiable correspondence on every application.
- We gather the details for you. No guessing which class fits or how to describe your goods and services — that's the attorney's job, not yours.
- We catch problems before the USPTO does. A clearance search and application review before filing, so surprises show up now, not four months from now.
- We handle what comes back. If an office action arrives, you have an attorney responding — not a form letter.
- Serving the Twin Cities metro, greater Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and clients nationwide — trademark filing is federal, so location was never the limiting factor.
What's included when Twin Cities Trademarks files for you
Clearance search first
We check federal, state, and common-law marks before you commit, so you're not filing on a name someone else already owns.
Correct class selection
Your attorney identifies the right international class and writes a goods/services description built to hold up to USPTO review.
Specimen review
We tell you exactly what qualifies as an acceptable specimen before you submit one that gets rejected.
Office action response
If the USPTO objects, your attorney drafts the legal response — this is where most self-filed applications get stuck.
Flat-fee, upfront pricing
You'll know the full cost, government fees included, before you sign anything.
A direct line to your attorney
Calls and emails go to the person actually preparing your application — not a rotating intake team.
Know the full cost before you file.
Every application package is quoted as a flat fee, government filing fees included, so there's no surprise hourly bill halfway through.
How filing works with Twin Cities Trademarks
Free consultation
Call (651) 222-3776 or send a message. We'll walk through your mark and what you're already using it on.
Search, class, and quote
We run a clearance search, confirm the right class and filing basis, and give you a flat-fee quote before anything is filed.
Filing & follow-through
We file with the USPTO and stay on the matter through any office actions, all the way to registration.
Common questions about filing a trademark application
What do I need to file a trademark application?
You need five core things: the mark itself (the word, logo, or slogan), a clear list of the goods or services it covers, the correct international class for those goods or services, your filing basis (use in commerce or intent to use), and the USPTO filing fee. If you're already using the mark, you'll also need a specimen showing it in actual use, such as a product label or website screenshot.
What is a specimen of use and do I need one?
A specimen is proof that you're actually using the mark in commerce, such as a photo of packaging, a screenshot of a website ordering page, or a hang tag. You need a specimen if you're filing under a use-in-commerce basis. If you haven't started using the mark yet, you can file under intent-to-use and submit the specimen later.
What is a filing basis and which one should I use?
The filing basis tells the USPTO whether you're already using the mark in commerce or plan to use it soon. Use-in-commerce applications require proof of current use. Intent-to-use applications let you reserve the mark before launch, but require an additional filing and fee later to prove use before registration completes.
Do I need to know my trademark class before filing?
Yes. The USPTO organizes goods and services into 45 international classes, and your application must identify the correct class or classes. Filing in the wrong class, or describing your goods and services too broadly or too narrowly, is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected or delayed.
How much does the USPTO charge to file a trademark application?
USPTO filing fees are charged per class of goods or services and are set by the USPTO directly, separate from any attorney fee. Twin Cities Trademarks quotes a flat attorney fee up front so you know the full cost, government fees included, before you file.
Can I file a trademark application myself without a lawyer?
Yes, the USPTO allows self-filing. The risk is in the details: an incorrect class, a description that's too broad, or a missing specimen can lead to an office action, delay, or outright refusal. An attorney reduces that risk and handles any office action that does come up.
Don't guess which pieces you're missing.
A free consultation gets you a straight answer on what your application needs — and a flat-fee quote to get it filed correctly.
Talk to an attorney today
Call or text and we'll walk through your mark, your goods and services, and what's still missing.
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