Quick answer
How much does trademark registration cost in India?
The government fee for trademark registration is ₹4,500 per class when an individual, start-up or small enterprise e-files Form TM-A, and ₹9,000 per class for other applicants. Paper filing costs ₹5,000 or ₹10,000. Professional fees are extra. Each class of goods or services you want covered needs its own fee.
- ₹4,500 per class for individuals, start-ups, small enterprises (e-filing)
- ₹9,000 per class for companies and others (e-filing)
- Renewal fee: ₹9,000 when e-filed
- Use ™ while pending, ® only after registration
What is trademark registration and who needs it?
Trademark registration is the entry of your brand mark in the Register of Trade Marks maintained by the Trade Marks Registry under IP India. Once registered, you hold the exclusive right to use that mark for the goods or services listed, and you can act against copycats.
Anyone using a name, logo, tagline or label to sell something should consider it. In Delhi that covers:
- sweet shops, restaurants and packaged food brands that have built a local following;
- garment, footwear and electronics traders who sell under their own label;
- D2C and e-commerce sellers, because marketplaces often ask for brand ownership proof before a brand store is approved;
- software firms, coaching institutes and consultants whose name is the business;
- manufacturers who print a brand on cartons and want to stop look-alike packaging.
A company name approved by the MCA, or a trade name on your GST certificate, does not give you trademark rights. Those are separate records. Founders often learn this only when a competitor files for the same word first.
How do trademark classes work?
Trademark classes group goods and services into numbered categories, and every application must name the class or classes it covers. Protection applies only within the classes you file in, and the official fee is charged per class, so choosing classes well controls both cost and coverage.
Goods and services sit in different classes. A bakery that sells packaged biscuits and also runs a café would typically look at a goods class for the biscuits and a services class for the café. A garment brand selling online may need a clothing class and, if it plans to run its own retail service, a services class too.
Practical rules we follow when picking classes
- Start with what you sell today and what you will sell in the next two to three years.
- Write the goods or services description in plain, specific words. Vague lists draw objections.
- Do not file in classes you have no plan to use. Each extra class adds ₹4,500 or ₹9,000 in government fees.
- Check whether a similar mark already exists in each class before you pay.
Need help with trademark registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
Why run a trademark search before filing?
A trademark search checks the public register for identical or similar marks already filed in your class, so you can spot conflicts before paying the fee. Skipping it is the most common reason applications run into objections or oppositions months later.
The search should cover the exact word, phonetic matches (a word that sounds the same in Hindi or English), spelling variants and similar logos. A Delhi trader called "Shree Balaji Traders" will find dozens of near matches; a coined word is much easier to protect. If the search shows a close mark in the same class, it is usually cheaper to adjust the brand now than to fight later.
Descriptive words ("Best Sweets", "Delhi Garments") and common surnames on their own are hard to register. Adding a distinctive coined word or a logo improves the odds.
What documents are needed for trademark registration?
You need the applicant's identity and address details, a clear copy of the mark, a list of goods or services, and an authorisation if an agent files for you. Small enterprises and start-ups also keep proof of that status ready to claim the lower fee.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant name, address and legal status | All applicants | Individual, proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company |
| Logo image or the word mark | All applicants | Clear JPEG; a word mark needs no image |
| Goods or services description and class | All applicants | Specific wording reduces objections |
| Date of first use, or "proposed to be used" | All applicants | Keep invoices or ads if you claim earlier use |
| Udyam certificate | Small enterprises | Supports the ₹4,500 per class fee |
| DPIIT recognition certificate | Start-ups | Supports the ₹4,500 per class fee |
| Form TM-48 authorisation | When an agent files | Signed by the applicant |
| Certificate of incorporation or partnership deed | Companies, LLPs, firms | Confirms the applicant entity |
Fee categories from IP India forms and official fees, checked October 2026.
How to file trademark registration online: step by step
The filing is fully online on the IP India portal. These are the stages most applications pass through, from search to the registration certificate.
- 1
Search the register
Check the word, phonetic variants and logos in each class you plan to file in.
- 2
Choose classes and draft the description
List the goods or services in clear terms that match your business.
- 3
File Form TM-A and pay the fee
E-file with the correct fee per class. You get an application number at once.
- 4
Examination by the Registry
An examiner checks the mark for conflicts and distinctiveness and issues a report.
- 5
Reply to any objection
If the report raises an objection, file a written reply and attend a hearing if one is fixed.
- 6
Publication in the Trade Marks Journal
Accepted marks are advertised so the public can oppose them.
- 7
Registration
If no opposition succeeds, the mark is registered and the certificate can be downloaded.
What is the official trademark registration fee?
IP India charges per class: ₹4,500 for an e-filed TM-A by an individual, start-up or small enterprise, and ₹9,000 for other applicants. Physical filing costs more. Renewal is ₹9,000 when e-filed. Professional charges for search, drafting and replies are separate.
| Form / action | Individual, start-up, small enterprise | Others (companies, LLPs, large firms) |
|---|---|---|
| TM-A application, e-filing | ₹4,500 | ₹9,000 |
| TM-A application, physical filing | ₹5,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Renewal, e-filing | ₹9,000 | ₹9,000 |
Source: IP India forms and official fees, checked October 2026. Some ranking pages still quote other figures; rely on the official table.
How long does trademark registration take?
Filing takes a day, but the full journey to a registration certificate usually runs many months. Ranking service pages commonly estimate 10 to 18 months; treat that as a market estimate, because an objection, a hearing or an opposition can stretch it further.
Objection versus opposition
- Objection comes from the Registry's examiner. Typical grounds are that the mark is descriptive, lacks distinctiveness, or resembles an earlier mark. You answer with a written reply and, if needed, a hearing.
- Opposition comes from a third party after your mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal. The opponent files a notice, you file a counter-statement, and both sides submit evidence.
Track your application status on the IP India portal regularly. Missing a reply date is the easiest way to lose an application that was otherwise sound.
™ vs ®: what can you use, and when must you renew?
You can use ™ with any mark you claim as your brand, including while the application is pending. The ® symbol is reserved for marks that are actually registered; using it on an unregistered mark is a misrepresentation, so wait for the certificate.
Registration does not last forever without action. Note the expiry date printed on your certificate and file the renewal before it, at the official e-filing fee of ₹9,000 per class as of October 2026. Set a calendar reminder a few months ahead; a lapsed mark leaves your brand exposed.
After registration, keep the mark in use as registered, record changes of owner or address with the Registry, and watch the Trade Marks Journal for copycat filings you may want to oppose.
Trademark registration in Delhi: what local owners should know
Trademark filing is national and online, so a Delhi business files exactly as a business anywhere else would. The local angle is about the kind of brands Delhi builds and the disputes they run into.
- Family and heritage names. Old Delhi sweet shops, namkeen makers and restaurants often share a family name across branches run by different relatives. Decide early who owns the mark and file in that person's or entity's name.
- Market clusters. Traders in places like Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk and Gandhi Nagar sell under labels that look alike. A search before printing packaging saves money. Readers in central Delhi can see our CA in Karol Bagh page.
- Start-ups and small units. If you hold a Udyam registration or DPIIT start-up recognition, you qualify for the lower ₹4,500 per class fee.
Many founders file the trademark soon after company registration in Delhi, so the brand and the legal entity line up from day one.
How CA in Delhi helps with trademark registration
We take your brand details, run the search, recommend classes and pass the work to a listed firm that handles trademark filing. Online platforms advertise trademark packages from about ₹1,199 plus government fees (seen October 2026); we quote a fixed professional fee in writing before anything is filed.
Khubchandani & Co. Chartered Accountants lists trademark registration among its services, alongside company formation and GST registration. You can compare all three listed firms on our chartered accountant firms in Delhi page.
Bring a logo file, your business proof and a list of products to our office at 411, Best Sky Tower, Netaji Subhash Place, or send them on WhatsApp to +91 99114 92897.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a brand name without a logo?
Yes. A word mark protects the name itself in any font or style, which is often broader protection than a logo. Many owners file the word mark first and the logo later as a separate application, each in the classes they need. Each application pays its own fee per class.
Can I use ™ after applying?
Yes. The ™ symbol signals that you claim the mark as your brand and can be used while the application is pending, or even without filing. Switch to ® only after the Registry issues the registration certificate. Using ® earlier is a false claim of registration.
How do I choose the correct trademark class?
Match the class to what you actually sell. Goods and services fall in different classes, so a product brand and a service business pick differently. List your current and planned products, map them to classes, and run a search in each. A professional can check the description wording before filing to avoid objections.
Who qualifies for the ₹4,500 trademark fee?
The official IP India fee table gives the ₹4,500 per class e-filing rate to individuals, start-ups and small enterprises. A proprietor filing in their own name qualifies as an individual. A company can use the lower rate if it is a recognised start-up or a small enterprise, so keep the DPIIT or Udyam certificate ready.
How often must I renew a trademark?
Renew before the expiry date shown on your registration certificate. The official renewal fee is ₹9,000 per class when e-filed, as of October 2026. Set reminders well ahead of the date, because a lapsed mark can be lost and restoring it is extra work and cost.
What is trademark opposition?
Opposition is a challenge by a third party after your mark is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. The opponent argues that your mark conflicts with theirs or should not be registered. You respond with a counter-statement and evidence, and the Registry decides. A good pre-filing search reduces this risk.
What happens if my application gets an objection?
An objection is common and not a rejection. The examiner explains the ground, such as similarity to an earlier mark or a descriptive word. You file a reasoned reply, often with proof of use, and may be called for a hearing. Track the portal so the reply is not missed.
Does GST registration or a company name protect my brand?
No. GST registration records your trade name for tax purposes and MCA approval reserves a company name under company law. Neither gives you exclusive rights to a brand. Only trademark registration, or a long and provable history of use, lets you stop others using a similar mark.
Is trademark registration in Delhi different from other cities?
No. Applications are filed online with IP India, and the same forms and fees apply across the country. What differs in Delhi is the competition: crowded market clusters and family brand names mean a careful search matters even more before you file.
Can a proprietorship or partnership firm apply?
Yes. A proprietor files in their own name, since a proprietorship has no separate legal identity. A partnership firm files in the names of its partners or the firm, and LLPs and companies file in their own names. The applicant should match whoever will own and use the brand.