Ways to file a trademark compared
There are four common routes to a trademark filing: file it yourself, use an online filing service, hire a flat-fee attorney or hire a traditional law firm. They differ in who prepares the file and in what costs extra.
The four routes differ less in the USPTO fee, which is the same for everyone, than in who reviews the file and what is charged after filing. The USPTO fee is $350 per class whichever route you take. Everything else is the provider's price and the extras around it.
The four routes at a glance
| File yourself | Online filing service | Flat-fee attorney | Traditional firm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost structure | USPTO fee only | Low headline price, then fees and add-ons | One flat price, USPTO fee shown separately | Often hourly, or a higher flat price |
| Who files | You | The service, from your answers, often without an attorney review | A US-licensed attorney | A US-licensed attorney, sometimes with staff |
| Often extra | Your own time, plus any help you add later | Rush, monitoring, objection help, extra classes | Extra classes and USPTO fees | Objection responses, advice calls |
| Best for | A simple, distinctive name in one class | People who want to submit quickly and accept limited review | Founders who want a person and a fixed total | Complex portfolios and disputes |
File yourself
Cheapest in cash, most expensive in attention. The risk sits in the description, the class and the deadlines, which our guide on hiring a lawyer or filing yourself covers in detail.
An online filing service
Published prices we reviewed for non-attorney services started far lower than attorney prices. Several added fees and add-ons during the application, such as rush handling, monitoring or help with an objection. Ask what is in the first price, and whether any attorney reviews the file. Applicants outside the US still need a US-licensed attorney.
A flat-fee attorney
A single price for the filing, with an attorney responsible for it. Published prices for attorney-assisted filing ran from roughly $500 to $1,550 per class, before or including the USPTO fee (November 2026). The range is wide because providers include different things. Our own route is in this group, and we show the total before you spend anything. See the pricing page for how.
A traditional law firm
A firm suits complicated cases, such as a portfolio across many marks, a dispute with another owner or a mark in many classes. It often costs the most, and an hourly fee is harder to predict. For a single new brand, much of that capacity goes unused.
How the same filing looks on each route
Take one brand, one class and a plain description. Filing yourself costs the USPTO fee and your time. An online service adds its own price and whatever extras you accept on the way. A flat-fee attorney adds one price, shown against the USPTO fee. A traditional firm adds an hourly rate or a higher flat price. If an objection arrives, the picture changes again, because only some routes include a reply in the first price.
Questions that apply to every route
- Is the USPTO fee included, or added at checkout?
- Does an attorney review the file before it is submitted?
- What is the price of responding to an objection?
- Who watches the deadlines, and is there a recurring charge?
- Whom can I call when something arrives from the USPTO?
Picking one
If the brand matters and the name is not clearly unique, a route with an attorney is easier to defend. If it is a small test and you can watch a calendar, filing yourself is reasonable. In between, ask for the full total and compare it line by line. Our guide to trademark lawyer fees lists what to ask. Whichever route you choose, a free search comes first. If you would like a total from us, see register a trademark, or browse the guides section.
Talk to us: Call +1 (619) 782-6859 or email hello@argostrademark.com
This is general information, not legal advice.