Filing guide · Do it yourself
Can you file a trademark application yourself?
Yes, if your business is based in the U.S. The USPTO's online system is open to anyone with a verified account. Here's what a DIY filing involves, the fields that cause most refusals, and when paying for help is worth it.
By Bill, Business Growth Expert · Verified and checked on October 27, 2026
Short answer
U.S.-based owners can file their own trademark application in the USPTO's Trademark Center after creating a USPTO.gov account and verifying their identity. The government fee is $350 per class, plus surcharges if you write your own goods description or leave out required information. The hard parts aren't the forms. They're searching for conflicts, describing your goods correctly and supplying acceptable proof of use. Businesses based outside the U.S. must use a U.S.-licensed attorney.
What does a DIY trademark filing involve?
Create and verify a USPTO.gov account
Identity verification is required before you can file trademark forms.
Search for conflicts
Check registered and pending marks for similar names on related goods, not just exact matches.
Pick the owner and mark
The owner is the person or company that controls the brand. Decide between a word mark and a logo.
Describe goods and services
Choose entries from the USPTO ID Manual to avoid the $200-per-class free-form surcharge.
Choose a filing basis
Use in commerce with a specimen, or intent to use if you haven’t launched.
Pay and watch the status
Expect a first review in several months. Answer any Office Action within three months.
The old TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard forms were replaced for new applications in January 2025 by a single base application in Trademark Center. Our TEAS Plus vs TEAS Standard guide explains what changed.
Where do DIY applications usually go wrong?
| Field | Common problem |
|---|---|
| Owner | Filing in your own name when your LLC runs the business, or the reverse. An application by a non-owner is void. |
| Goods description | Too broad, too vague or in the wrong class. Fixable, but it delays the application. |
| Specimen | A mockup, a logo file or a page with no way to buy. One of the most common refusals. |
| Mark drawing | A logo filed when the name alone would have given broader protection. |
| Search | Skipping it. A likelihood-of-confusion refusal can’t be fixed with paperwork. |
USPTO fees aren't refunded if the application is refused, so a mistake can mean paying twice. Start with a clearance search and check what counts as a specimen.
Should you file yourself or get help?
File it yourself
Lowest cost. Suits a simple word mark in one class, when you have time to read USPTO guidance.
Filing service
Help with searching, classes, wording and deadlines for a flat fee. Not legal advice.
Trademark attorney
Legal opinions, refusal arguments and disputes. Required for foreign-domiciled applicants.
Secure Mark USA is a filing service, not a law firm. Its service fee starts at $99 on top of USPTO fees. Compare the filing packages.
Search your name before you file, whichever route you choose.
Run a free trademark searchDIY trademark filing questions
Can I file a trademark without an attorney?
Yes, if you are domiciled in the United States. Applicants based outside the U.S. must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney.
How much does it cost to file a trademark yourself?
The USPTO base fee is $350 per class. Surcharges apply for a free-form goods description ($200 per class), extra-long descriptions ($200 per class per additional 1,000 characters) and missing information ($100 per class).
Where do I file a trademark application myself?
In the USPTO’s Trademark Center, using a USPTO.gov account with verified identity.
What is the hardest part of a DIY trademark application?
Usually the clearance search, the goods and services description and the specimen. Most refusals come from those three areas.
Do I get a refund if my DIY application is refused?
No. USPTO fees cover examination and are not refunded if the application is refused.
Related guides
Legal disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice. Secure Mark USA is a trademark filing service, not a law firm. Refusals that need legal argument should go to a licensed trademark attorney.
Sources
- USPTO: Trademark Center updates and training, checked October 27, 2026
- USPTO: Fee schedule (base application and surcharges)
- USPTO: Identity verification for trademark filers
- 37 C.F.R. §2.11: Foreign-domiciled applicants must be represented by a U.S. attorney
Verified and checked on October 27, 2026.