NAMES AND CLASSES
Classes: why one filing doesn't cover everything
A trademark filing lists what is sold, sorted into classes, and it covers those goods and services rather than everything a business sells.
The USPTO sorts goods and services into 45 classes. Clothing is one class, for example, and restaurant services are another. An application lists what is actually sold, and the government fee is charged per class.
Protection is tied to what is listed. That's why one filing doesn't cover every product. Even so, related products can still conflict. A name on packaged coffee and a similar name on a café may clash, even though they sit in different classes.
As a business grows, new kinds of products can mean new classes. Founders commonly ask an attorney which classes fit what they sell today, and what they plan to sell next.
The fee per class
Typical market ranges — not a quote, and not any firm's price list.
Government fees (USPTO)
- Application
- $350 per class
For example, with two classes: USPTO fee: $350 per class × 2 classes = $700
Government fees shown are for filing online; filing on paper costs more.
Why this matters to your business
Classes shape both cost and coverage. Listing too little can leave a new product line outside a registration, and listing classes a business doesn't use adds fees. Knowing how classes work makes a budget easier to plan and a quote easier to read.
What an attorney will want to know
- Every product or service you sell under the name today
- What you plan to add in the next year or two
- Where each product is sold, online or in stores
- A short description of what you sell, in your own words
Ask your attorney
Which classes fit what I sell now, and what I plan to sell next?
Would a new product line mean a new filing for me?
General information, not legal advice. An attorney confirms how this applies to you.