Though it may seem complicated to register a trademark for your brand name in the United States, it’s actually a simple process - and a very important one.

Trademarks offer legal protection to your business by protecting your unique identity.  With trademark protection, you gain exclusive rights to your branding, ideas, logos, color schemes, and more, all depending on what you chose to register. 

As you well know, your brand name is a valuable asset and it’s essential to protect it.  Luckily we’ve laid. out for you here the 3 simple steps to registering a brand trademark so you can get started right away. 

Make Sure Your Brand Name isn’t Already Trademarked: First things first.  Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website.  Search through the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) to ensure that your brand name is not already trademarked.  Check as well for very similar names as these might cause your trademark request to be rejected as well. 

If you don’t take the time to complete this step, your application fee could go down the drain.

Choose the Correct Application Type:  You completed your search and your brand name has not yet been trademarked.  Congratulations, that’s great news!  Now you’re ready to begin reviewing the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). 

There are 3 different types of applications: TEAS Plus, TEAS Reduced, and TEAS Regular.  Be aware that each has a different price and set of requirements.  Review the information on the site to determine which choice is correct for you.  Once you know what’s the right selection for your business, begin your application. 

Please be aware that in certain circumstances, there may be additional costs.

File Your Application & Sit Tight: After you’ve completed and submitted your application, you will receive an email confirmation.  You should receive notice of acceptance or rejection within about 3 months.

Remember to carefully read through all instructions and check the database thoroughly in order to ensure that your trademark request has the best possible chance of success.

Even though the process is relatively simple, many businesses choose to hire attorneys to complete these tasks for them.  This is certainly an option for you if you do not have the time to file on your own. 

Like filing a trademark application, setting up an IVR Payments System, i.e. Interactive Voice Recognition System,  is not as complicated as it seems.   Learn more about how it works with Agile Payments.