Registering a company at Companies House does not stop anyone else trading under your name. A trade mark does, and it is the only registration that gives you that right. Knowing how to trademark a name matters most in the weeks before you print signage or buy a domain. Fees rose on 1 April 2026, so older guides quote the wrong numbers.
Direct answer: search the UK register for conflicts, then choose the classes of goods or services you sell. Apply online through the Intellectual Property Office for £205 for the first class and £60 for each extra one. The IPO examines the application, publishes it for two months, and registration usually completes in three to four months.
| Item | Current position |
| Where you apply | UK Intellectual Property Office, online |
| Online fee, first class | £205, up from £170 before 1 April 2026 |
| Each additional class | £60, up from £50 |
| Paper application | £250 |
| Number of classes available | 45 in total, 34 for goods and 11 for services |
| Examination and publication | Published in the Trade Marks Journal after examination |
| Objection window | Two months, extendable to three |
| Usual time to register | Three to four months if unopposed |
| Protection length | Ten years, renewable indefinitely |
| Renewal fee | £245 first class, plus £60 per extra class |
Key Takeaways
- A company name, a domain and a trade mark are three separate things.
- Classes decide the scope of your protection, so pick them before you pay.
- Fees rose across the board on 1 April 2026, including renewals and oppositions.
- Descriptive names are the most common reason an application fails.
- Budget for the ten-year renewal now, not in nine years.
What You Will Need Before You Start?
- The exact name, wordmark, or logo you want to protect
- A list of the goods and services you actually sell
- Card details for the application fee
- An email address the IPO can use for correspondence
- Roughly an hour, plus time for the search
How To Trademark A Name In 6 Steps?
- Search the register first. Use the IPO trade mark search to look for identical and similar marks in your classes. Search Companies House and the domain registries at the same time.
- Check the name is capable of registration. It needs to distinguish your business. Plain descriptions of the product, ordinary geographic terms and misleading claims all get refused.
- Choose your classes. There are 45 classes. A bakery selling cakes and running classes needs more than one, and each extra class costs £60.
- File the application online. The standard route costs £205 for the first class. Right Start splits the payment, so you pay part now and the rest only after the examiner reports back.
- Respond to the examination report. The IPO checks your mark and writes to you with any objections. You normally get two months to reply.
- Wait for publication. Your application appears in the Trade Marks Journal. Third parties have two months to object, extendable to three by filing a notice of threatened opposition.
If nobody objects, the mark registers and you can use the ® symbol. Before that point, use TM instead.
What It Costs In 2026?
The IPO raised fees on 1 April 2026, its first trade mark increase in nearly three decades. GOV.UK now states that registering costs at least £205.
- One class, online: £205
- Two classes: £265
- Three classes: £325
- Paper filing instead: £250 before extra classes
- Ten-year renewal, one class: £245
Objection costs rose too. If you are researching how to trademark a name, understanding the potential costs involved is an important step. Opposing on earlier-rights grounds now costs £125, and other grounds £250. Invalidation and revocation actions moved from £200 to £250. Add professional fees if you use an attorney. That is usually money well spent for logos, overseas plans, or a crowded category.
Why A Company Name Is Not Enough?
This trips up most new owners. If you are researching how to trademark a name, it is important to understand that Companies House stops an identical company name being incorporated. Still, it does not stop a sole trader, a shop, or an overseas seller using your trading name on their products. Domain registration gives you an address, nothing more. Only a registered mark lets you demand that someone stops using your name in your market. If you are still at the setup stage, our guides to registering a business and setting up a limited company cover those separate steps. We cover this in more depth in Company Name in the UK.
How To Search Properly?
A five-minute search misses the conflicts that matter. Work through four sources:
- The IPO register, by word and by class
- Companies House, for similar registered company names
- Domain and social handles, for practical availability
- A plain web search, for unregistered traders with local reputation
That last one matters more than people expect. An established business without a registered mark can still challenge you through passing off. Know more about the Brand Marketing than explore our catagory Branding.
Reasons Applications Get Refused
- The name only describes the goods, such as Fresh Bread for a bakery
- It is a common surname or a place name with no added distinctiveness
- Another business already holds a similar mark in the same classes
- It suggests an endorsement or quality you cannot support
- Protected emblems, royal insignia, or regulated terms appear in it
- The classes chosen do not match what the business sells
Distinctive and slightly odd names clear examination more easily than accurate ones. That is the trade-off worth understanding before the logo is finalised.
Your Next Step
If you are learning how to trademark a name, start by running the four searches today, writing down the classes that match your revenue, and pricing the application at £205 plus £60 per extra class—file before you spend on packaging or shopfront signage. If you are about to launch, starting an online business sets out what else needs doing in the same week.
Conclusion
Knowing how to trademark a name helps protect your brand before competitors, copycats, or market confusion become a problem. A registered trademark gives you stronger legal control than a company name or domain alone. Before filing, check availability, choose the right classes, and consider future growth. Taking these steps early can protect your identity and create a stronger foundation for your business. Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to read an article on Brand Activation, visit our Branding Category.
FAQs
£205 online for one class, plus £60 for each additional class. Paper applications cost £250. Renewal after ten years is £245 for the first class.
Around three to four months when nobody objects. Objections, or an examination report you need to answer, push that out considerably.
Not in the same classes. You can sometimes register the same word for unrelated goods, which is why several unconnected businesses share names legitimately.
No. If you are wondering how to trademark a name without professional help, straightforward word marks in one or two classes are commonly filed directly. Attorneys earn their fee on logos, disputes and overseas filings.
TM signals a claim and can be used at any time. ® means the mark is registered, and using it falsely is an offence.
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely in ten-year blocks. Miss the renewal window and the mark lapses.
No. A UK registration stops at the UK border. Selling into the EU or United States means separate filings, which is worth planning if you are selling online across borders.
