Tampa, FL based Form America LLC researched trademarks and service marks for all 50 States, and produced one of the first national analysis reports of filing costs for State-level trade and service mark registration. It is hundreds of dollars cheaper to file a State trademark v. Federal trademark, and if you do-it-yourself you might save literally thousands by filing your mark with your local State government vs. a Federal trademark filing.
Filing a state trademark can provide several benefits to businesses or individuals who want to protect their brand in a specific state or territory. Here are some of the benefits of filing a state trademark:
Exclusive use of the mark: By registering a state trademark, the owner obtains the exclusive right to use the mark in connection with the goods or services specified in the registration within the state or territory where it is registered.
Legal protection: The state registration provides legal protection to the trademark owner and enables them to take legal action against any unauthorized use or infringement of their mark within the state or territory.
Cost-effective: State trademark registration is significantly less expensive than federal registration, which can be beneficial for small businesses or individuals with a limited budget.
Faster registration process: The state trademark registration process is generally faster than the federal registration process, which can be advantageous for businesses that want to protect their mark quickly.
Local market protection: If a business operates only within a specific state or territory, registering a state trademark can be a practical and cost-effective way to protect its brand in the local market.
However, it is important to note that the protection provided by a state trademark is limited to the state or territory where it is registered. Therefore, if a business plans to expand its operations to other states or territories, it may want to consider obtaining federal trademark registration.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky are the cheapest with filings of just $10.00 per trademark class. Ohio and South Dakota are gouging their residents compared to the other States, charging $125 to register a State level trademark. In Ohio’s defense, they made a really nice brochure explaining why they charge $115 more than the cheapest states for the same service. South Dakota doesn’t even give you a nice .pdf for your $125 filing fee.
Here are the costs as of April 2023 to file a State level trademark using each State’s direct filing system :
Alabama: $30 per class
Alaska: $50 per class
Arizona: $15 per class
Arkansas: $50 per class
California: $70 per class
Colorado: $30 per class
Connecticut: $50 per class
Delaware: $25 per class
Florida: $87.50 per class
Georgia: $15 per class
Hawaii: $50 per class
Idaho: $30 per class
Illinois: $10 per class
Indiana: $10 per class
Iowa: $10 per class
Kansas: $40 per class
Kentucky: $10 per class
Louisiana: $75 per class
Maine: $60 per class
Maryland: $50 per class
Massachusetts: $50 per class
Michigan: $50 per class
Minnesota: $50 per class
Mississippi: $50 per class
Missouri: $55 per class
Montana: $20 per class
Nebraska: $110 per class
Nevada: $100 per class
New Hampshire: $50 per class
New Jersey: $50 per class
New Mexico: $50 per class
New York: $50 per class
North Carolina: $75 per class
North Dakota: $50 per class
Ohio: $125 per class
Oklahoma: $50 per class
Oregon: $50 per class
Pennsylvania: $50 per class
Rhode Island: $50 per class
South Carolina: $15 per class
South Dakota: $125 per class
Tennessee: $20 per class
Texas: $50 per class
Utah: $50 per class
Vermont: $20 per class
Virginia: $30 per class
Washington: $30 per class
West Virginia: $50 per class
Wisconsin: $15 per class
Wyoming: $100 per class
These prices were all verified by Pro Se America 4/10/2023. Please research your state for specific filing requirements. Some states offer discounts for multiple class filings. You generally don’t need help filing a State Trademark Application, but seek legal advice from a competent attorney if you have questions regarding Trademark law at the State or Federal Level. Form America LLC is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.