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To register a trademark in the UK, you apply online through the Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) for £170 per class. The process takes around 3 to 4 months if no one objects. From 1 April 2026, fees rise to £205, so acting now saves money. This guide covers every step, the real costs, common mistakes, and what changes in 2026.
Nouveau Legal is a boutique commercial law practice based in Middlesbrough. We help businesses across the UK protect their brands with fixed-fee, plain-English legal advice. Explore our full range of business legal services or get a free quote today.
If you want to register a trademark in the UK, you need to apply through the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), choose the right classes for your goods or services, and pay from £170 online. Trademark registration in the UK protects your business name, logo, or slogan from being copied. It gives you exclusive legal rights for 10 years, and you can renew it indefinitely.
In the first nine months of 2025, over 128,000 trademark applications were filed in the UK. That is an 18.5% increase on the previous year. More businesses than ever are taking steps to protect their brands. Yet many owners still confuse registering a company name at Companies House with trademarking. They are two completely different things.
Here is the thing. Registering at Companies House does not stop someone else from using a similar brand name in trade. Only a registered trademark gives you that legal protection.
This guide walks you through every step of the UK trademark registration process. We cover the real costs, common mistakes, what happens if someone objects, and the big changes coming in 2026. Whether you are a startup in Middlesbrough or a growing business elsewhere in the UK, this guide has everything you need.
At Nouveau Legal, we help businesses protect their intellectual property every day. We offer fixed-fee trademark registration services in plain English, with no hidden charges. Everything in this guide comes from real experience working with business owners just like you.
A trademark is a sign that makes your business stand out from others. It can be a word, a logo, a slogan, a shape, a colour, or even a sound. Think of the Nike tick or the name Google. Those are trademarks.
Under the Trade Marks Act 1994, a registered trademark gives you the exclusive right to use that sign for the goods or services you registered it for. If someone copies it, you can take legal action.
Without a trademark, you rely on something called “passing off.” This means you have to prove your brand has a strong reputation, that the other party misled customers, and that your business was harmed. That is much harder and more expensive than simply pointing to your trademark registration certificate.
For a deeper dive into how IP works for businesses, read our guide to understanding intellectual property.
You can trademark:
You cannot trademark:
Here is the full process, step by step. The whole thing is managed by the UKIPO and can be done online through GOV.UK.
Start by choosing exactly what you want to protect. Is it your business name? Your logo? A slogan? You can trademark any of these, but each one is a separate application.
If you have both a name and a logo, consider registering them separately. A word mark protects the name in any font or style. A logo mark only protects that specific design.
Before you pay a penny, search the UKIPO trademark database to check if someone else already owns a similar mark. Also search Companies House, domain registries, and social media.
At Nouveau Legal, one of the most common issues we see is clients who skip this step. They file an application only to find out a similar trademark already exists. That wastes both time and money.
The UK uses a system of 45 trademark classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods. Classes 35 to 45 cover services. You must pick at least one class when you apply.
Your trademark only protects you within the classes you choose. Get this wrong, and your mark might not cover what you actually sell. You cannot add classes after you submit your application.
The UKIPO has a free online search tool to help you find the right classes.
You can apply online at GOV.UK. The standard application costs £170 for one class, plus £50 for each additional class. Paper applications cost £200.
There is also a Right Start option for £200 total. You pay half upfront and receive an examination report from the UKIPO. If your mark passes, you pay the second half to proceed. This is useful if you are unsure whether your mark will be accepted.
After you apply, a UKIPO examiner reviews your application. They check whether your mark is distinctive, whether it conflicts with existing registrations, and whether it meets all formal requirements.
If the examiner raises any issues, you have two months to respond. This is where professional help can be valuable. A poorly drafted response can lead to refusal.
If your application passes examination, it gets published in the Trade Marks Journal. Anyone can view it for two months (extendable to three). During this window, other businesses can formally object if they believe your mark conflicts with theirs.
Around 5% of UK trademark applications face opposition. We cover what to do if this happens to you in a section below.
If no one opposes your mark, or if any opposition is resolved in your favour, the UKIPO registers your trademark. You will receive an electronic registration certificate, usually within about two weeks of the opposition period ending.
Congratulations. You can now use the registered trademark symbol.
Here is a clear breakdown of what you will pay.
| Fee Type | Current (Before April 2026) | From 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Online application (1 class) | £170 | £205 |
| Each additional class | £50 | £60 |
| Paper application (1 class) | £200 | £250 |
| 10-year renewal (1 class) | £200 | £245 |
| Solicitor fees (typical range) | £250 to £800+ | £250 to £800+ |
Source: GOV.UK, Intellectual Property Office fees announcement, November 2025.
This is the first time UKIPO has increased trademark fees since 1998. The average increase across all IP services is 25%.
Let us say you run a cafe in Teesside. You want to trademark your cafe name for both food products (Class 30) and restaurant services (Class 43). Here is what you would pay before and after April 2026:
| Item | Before April 2026 | After April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| UKIPO fee (first class) | £170 | £205 |
| UKIPO fee (second class) | £50 | £60 |
| Solicitor support (typical) | £400 | £400 |
| Total estimated cost | £620 | £665 |
If you file before 1 April 2026, you save £45 on UKIPO fees alone. For businesses registering multiple marks or classes, the savings add up quickly.
Best case: 3 to 4 months from filing to registration.
What can slow things down?
Yes, you can absolutely apply for a trademark yourself through the UKIPO online service. It is designed to be user-friendly, and plenty of business owners do it without professional help.
But there are situations where using a solicitor saves you money in the long run.
| DIY Application | With a Solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £170 to £270 (UKIPO fees only) | £500 to £1,200+ (including legal fees) |
| Best for | Simple word marks, one class, no conflicts found | Complex marks, multiple classes, international plans |
| Risk level | Higher. Mistakes in classes or search can mean refusal | Lower. Professional search and drafting reduces errors |
| Opposition help | You handle it yourself | Solicitor manages the response and negotiation |
One thing we have seen at Nouveau Legal: clients who filed without professional advice sometimes pick the wrong class or miss a conflicting mark. Refiling costs more than getting it right the first time. If your brand is central to your business, it is worth investing in a proper search and application.
Nouveau Legal offers fixed-fee intellectual property services, including trademark searches, application support, and handling objections. No hourly billing, no surprise costs.
You might be wondering whether trademark registration is really necessary. Here are ten practical reasons why it matters.
If you are also looking at protecting your contracts and customer agreements alongside your brand, explore our commercial contracts support.
Getting your trademark application wrong can cost you time, money, and your filing fee. Here are the mistakes we see most often.
If someone believes your trademark conflicts with theirs, they can file a formal opposition during the two-month publication window. Here is what that process looks like.
Opposition does not automatically mean you will lose. Many oppositions are resolved through negotiation. For example, you might agree to limit your classes or amend your mark slightly.
However, opposition proceedings can significantly increase costs and timelines. This is one of the key reasons a thorough pre-application search matters.
Registration is not the end of the process. Here is what you need to do to keep your trademark active and protected.
A UK trademark only covers the UK and the Isle of Man. If you sell or plan to sell abroad, you need additional protection.
If you are planning to register a trademark in 2026, there are three important developments to be aware of.
The UKIPO is raising fees for the first time in nearly 30 years. Online trademark applications will go from £170 to £205 per class. Renewal fees increase from £200 to £245. The full details are on GOV.UK.
If you have been putting off your application, filing before April 2026 will save you money.
When the UK left the EU, existing EU trademarks were automatically duplicated as UK trademarks (known as “Brexit clones”). From January 2026, owners of these clones must now show genuine use in the UK to defend against non-use cancellation. Use in the EU alone is no longer enough.
If your business holds a Brexit clone trademark, review your portfolio now to make sure you can prove UK-based use.
UK trademark applications grew 18.5% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the previous year. That means more marks are being registered, which increases the chance of conflicts. Early filing is more important than ever.
The UKIPO charges £170 for one class online (£200 by post), plus £50 per extra class. From 1 April 2026, online fees rise to £205. If you use a solicitor, expect to pay £250 to £800 on top for professional guidance.
Typically 3 to 4 months if your application is straightforward and no one opposes it. If the examiner raises objections or a third party files an opposition, it can take 6 to 12 months or longer.
Yes, you can apply directly through the UKIPO online service. However, a solicitor helps with thorough searches, correct class selection, and handling objections. This can save time and money if complications arise.
No. Registering at Companies House protects your company name from being used by another limited company, but it does not give you trademark rights. Someone else could still use a similar brand name in trade unless you register a trademark separately. This is one of the most common misconceptions we encounter.
A UK trademark lasts 10 years from the filing date. You can renew it indefinitely in 10-year periods. However, if you do not use your mark for five consecutive years, it can be challenged and cancelled.
The UKIPO notifies you, and there is usually a cooling-off period where you can negotiate. If that fails, both parties submit evidence, and the UKIPO makes a decision. Around 5% of applications face opposition.
You need a UK, Gibraltar, or Channel Islands address for service. Foreign applicants can appoint a UK-based representative. You do not need a UK business entity to apply.
Yes. A series application lets you register up to six variations of the same mark in one go, as long as the differences between them are minor. For example, different colour versions of your logo. This costs less than filing six separate applications.
If your brand matters to your business, registering a trademark is one of the smartest investments you can make. For as little as £170, you get 10 years of legal protection, the right to stop copycats, and a valuable business asset you can license or sell.
The process is straightforward if you prepare properly. Search for conflicts. Choose the right classes. Apply before the April 2026 fee increase. And if in doubt, get professional advice. It is almost always cheaper than fixing mistakes later.
At Nouveau Legal, we offer fixed-fee trademark registration and IP protection services. We handle the search, the application, and any objections, all in plain English and at a price you know upfront.
Ready to protect your brand? Get a free, no-obligation quote from our team. Or if you prefer to chat first, book a consultation and we will review your options together.