A U.S. federal trademark application starts with a $350 USPTO filing fee per class of goods or services for a qualifying electronic application under Section 1 or Section 44. That is the government’s base application fee. Your total budget may also include a trademark search, attorney fees, additional filings, and later maintenance.
For a Miami business preparing to launch a brand, the useful question is: What work does my business need, and which costs are included in the quote?
What are the government fees?
These are common electronic filing fees. All amounts are in U.S. dollars.
• Base application under Section 1 or Section 44 — $350 per class
• Amendment to allege use or statement of use — $150 per class
• Six-month extension to file a statement of use — $125 per class
• Certain missing application information — additional $100 per class
• Using free-form goods/services text instead of the ID Manual — additional $200 per class
• Each additional 1,000-character group beyond the first 1,000 in free-form text — additional $200 per affected class
The surcharge rules depend on the application. A custom description may be appropriate, but it should be a deliberate choice. These figures do not cover every filing route or proceeding.
Why does the number of classes matter?
Trademark classes organize goods and services. The filing budget depends on what the application covers—not simply how many companies you own or products you sell.
Illustrative example: A Miami café seeks registration of one mark for café services in one class. Its base application fee is $350. If the same application also covers packaged coffee in a second class, the base fee becomes $700.
If both classes are filed on an intent-to-use basis and later require a statement of use, that adds $300, bringing those government charges to $1,000 before attorney fees, extensions, or surcharges. Actual classification and filing strategy require review.
What do trademark attorney fees cover?
Attorney fees depend on the services included and the issues presented. Ask for a written scope that separates:
• Evaluating the proposed name or logo and search results.
• Preparing and filing the application.
• Government charges and search-provider costs.
• Responding to USPTO objections.
• Later use filings, extensions, and maintenance.
A quote for preparing an application may leave later work outside the engagement. Ask what happens if the USPTO raises an objection, and whether the response would require a separate estimate.
The USPTO explains that an attorney can help with clearance, application requirements, and legal issues during examination.
Is a trademark search worth budgeting for?
Searching only for an identical name can miss a potential conflict. Similar sound, appearance, meaning, and related goods or services can matter. A clearance search helps assess those risks before you commit to packaging, signs, advertising, or filing.
Think about the business decision behind the search: would you rather investigate a concern before ordering your signs or after opening day?
What costs come after registration?
For registrations subject to Sections 8 and 9, the first required use declaration falls between the fifth and sixth registration anniversaries. A combined use declaration and renewal follows between the ninth and tenth anniversaries, then every ten years.
Current electronic fees are $325 per class for the Section 8 declaration and $650 per class for the combined Sections 8 and 9 filing. Attorney fees, optional filings, and late charges are separate. These are today’s fees, not a guarantee of future prices.
How should a Miami business compare quotes?
Ask each provider to explain the same proposed project: the mark, goods or services, number of classes, search scope, and whether use has begun. Then compare the included work and possible later charges.
A useful estimate should help you decide what to protect now, what can wait, and what additional events could change the budget.
For more questions to ask, see our guide: How to Choose a Trademark Attorney in Miami (sanchelima.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-trademark-attorney-in-miami).
Discuss your trademark budget with Sanchelima
Sanchelima & Associates, P.A. assists with trademark searches, applications, Office Action responses, and portfolio maintenance. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.
Visit our trademark services page (sanchelima.com/en/practice/trademarks) to request a consultation. Bring your proposed mark, a description of your products or services, and your launch plans so we can discuss an appropriate scope and estimate.
Government fees checked October 4, 2026. This article provides general information, not legal advice for a particular matter, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Sources: USPTO – How much does it cost (uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/how-much-does-it-cost); USPTO fee schedule (uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/uspto-fee-schedule); USPTO trademark fee information (uspto.gov/trademarks/trademark-fee-information); USPTO – Why hire a private trademark attorney (uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/why-hire-private-trademark-attorney); USPTO – Federal trademark searching (uspto.gov/trademarks/search/federal-trademark-searching); USPTO – Keeping your registration alive (uspto.gov/trademarks/maintain/keeping-your-registration-alive).