WORKING WITH AN ATTORNEY
Flat fees, payment plans and what to bring
Many attorneys offer flat fees for defined work and payment plans, and a first call goes further when the basics are ready.
Many attorneys offer flat fees for defined work, such as a search, an application or a response to an examiner. Ask what's included: the search, the filing, and any responses to the examiner.
Payment plans are common, and phasing is normal. Many founders protect the name that matters most first, and add the rest over time.
What to bring: logo files, where the name appears today, and first-use dates. It also helps to have the owning company's exact legal name, agreements with co-founders, freelancers and agencies, earlier filing numbers and any letter received.
Why this matters to your business
Knowing how fees are set up turns a large, vague number into a first step that fits a budget. A prepared first call also spends less time on the basics, so more of it goes to the founder's own questions.
What an attorney will want to know
- Your budget and the pace that suits you
- Which items matter most to you right now
- Any deadlines, letters or launch dates
Ask your attorney
Is your fee flat?
What's included — search, filing, responses to the examiner?
Do you offer a payment plan?
General information, not legal advice. An attorney confirms how this applies to you.