New Jersey, 2026 guide

Trademark Registration in New Jersey

Between New York and Philadelphia, almost no New Jersey business stays inside one state. Here is when a New Jersey trademark is enough, and when it is not.

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$50NJ state per class
5 yrsstate term
$99+our federal filing

Ask a New Jersey owner where their customers are and you will rarely hear "only New Jersey." The state sits in the middle of one of the busiest commercial corridors in the country, and that geography is exactly why a New Jersey only trademark leaves most businesses under protected. There are two separate registrations people call a New Jersey trademark. A state one goes through the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and covers New Jersey. A federal one goes through the USPTO and covers all fifty states.

General information to help you decide, not legal advice. Trademark rights can depend on how and where a mark is used, the goods or services involved, prior users, and other facts. Source: New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Trademark and Service Mark application (Form TMSM01). Secure Mark USA does not file New Jersey state applications.

The corridor problem: a New Jersey registration does nothing about a business using your name in New York, Pennsylvania, or Delaware, all a bridge or tunnel away. If your customers cross state lines, and in this corridor they almost always do, state only protection has a hole in it from day one.

What a New Jersey registration does, and does not

What it does

  • Puts your mark on the record in New Jersey
  • Covers use within the state, for five years
  • Costs $50 per class, renewable
  • Offers expedited handling if you need it fast

What it does not

  • Reach New York, Pennsylvania, or anywhere else
  • Grant the (R) symbol
  • Put you in the federal database competitors search
  • Count as a step toward federal

What federal registration gives you

A federal registration goes through the USPTO Trademark Center (which replaced the older TEAS platform): nationwide protection, the (R) symbol, and a public federal record, for $350 per class. On current USPTO data, expect roughly 4.5 months to a first action and about 10 months to registration for a clean application, longer with a refusal, an Office Action, a suspension, or an opposition. Secure Mark USA prepares and files it for you from $99 plus the USPTO fee. Start with a free trademark search or read the complete U.S. registration guide.

Source: USPTO Trademarks Dashboard; USPTO, How much does it cost.

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Run a free search. If the name is clear, we file your federal application from $99 plus USPTO fees.

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New Jersey trademark questions

My business is in Jersey City and I sell into NYC constantly. State or federal?

Federal. A New Jersey only registration would not reach New York, where a big share of your customers and competitors are.

What does a New Jersey state registration cost and how long does it last?

$50 per class, valid five years and renewable. Federal is $350 per class and lasts ten years per term.

I registered my LLC with New Jersey. Am I trademarked?

No. Entity formation is separate from trademark rights and will not stop a competitor from using your brand name.

Does a New Jersey registration speed up a federal one?

No. They are separate systems with separate records.

When can I use the (R) symbol?

Only after the USPTO registers your mark federally, roughly ten months for a straightforward application, sometimes longer.

Helpful resources

USPTO: Trademark Basics, How much does it cost, Trademarks Dashboard.

New Jersey: Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Trademark application (Form TMSM01).

Secure Mark USA: Free trademark search, Complete U.S. registration guide.