Your startup’s name and logo are what customers remember. If a competitor registers something similar before you do, you may be forced to rebrand after you have spent money on marketing. A registered trademark gives you a legal right to the brand in the category where you registered it. This guide explains, in plain English, how trademark registration works for a startup in India, what the official fees are, and how the government helps recognised startups cut the cost.
Quick facts
- Where to file: the Trade Marks Registry under IP India (ipindia.gov.in), using Form TM-A
- Official fee for a startup or small enterprise: Rs 4,500 for e-filing and Rs 5,000 for physical filing, for each class and each mark
- Fee for other applicants: Rs 9,000 for e-filing and Rs 10,000 for physical filing
- Startup support: a 50% rebate in trademark filing fees, and government-paid facilitator fees under SIPP for DPIIT-recognised startups
- Last checked: 26 October 2026 against the IP India fee schedule and the Startup India IPR page
What Can You Register as a Trademark?
A trademark is a sign that tells customers who is behind a product or service. For a startup it usually means one or more of the following:
- Your business or product name
- Your logo or design
- A tagline or slogan, if it is distinctive
You do not register “a company”. You register a mark for specified goods or services in specified classes. A mark registered for software services does not automatically protect you in clothing. Decide what you sell now and what you may sell in the next few years before you file.
Company Registration Is Not Trademark Registration
This is the most common surprise. Registering a private limited company or LLP with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs gives you the right to use that name as a company, subject to MCA rules. It does not give you brand ownership against others. A domain name does not either. Only a trademark application or registration protects the brand in the way described here. If you have not yet formed your company, our guide to registering a private limited company covers the MCA side.
Official Fees for Startups
IP India publishes the fee schedule under the Trade Mark Rules, 2017. For Form TM-A, the application for registration of a trademark, the schedule shows:
| Applicant | Physical filing | E-filing |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| Individual, startup or small enterprise | Rs 5,000 | Rs 4,500 |
| All other applicants | Rs 10,000 | Rs 9,000 |
The schedule notes that the fee is for each class and for each mark. If you file one mark in three classes, you pay the fee three times. Other forms, such as responding to an objection or renewing a registration, have their own fees, so check the full schedule before you budget.
The Startup India IPR page says the Trade Marks Rules were amended to provide a 50% rebate in the trademark filing fee to startups. The IP India schedule shows the amounts that are in force now. Use the schedule as the reference for the exact figure on the day you file.
Free Facilitator Support Under SIPP
The Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) is run by DPIIT and the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. The June 2026 Startup India playbook says it helps DPIIT-recognised startups file and process patent, design and trademark applications with help from IP facilitators. The fees of the facilitators are paid by the Controller General’s office, so startups generally pay only the statutory government fees.
Support covers advice, drafting, filing, replies to examination reports, hearings, opposition handling and final disposal, according to the playbook. Applicants must self-declare that they have not used funds from any other government scheme to pay facilitator or agent fees for the same application. The IP India SIPP page lists the facilitators and notes that the scheme was extended for three years from 1 April 2023. Check that page for the current panel and procedure.
Step by Step: How to Register a Trademark
The details of each stage are on the IP India website. In outline:
1. Search first. Look through the public trademark search on the IP India website for marks that are the same or similar to yours, in your class. Also search the web and app stores.
2. Choose the class or classes that match your goods and services.
3. Prepare your details. You will need the applicant’s name and address, a clear representation of the mark, a description of goods or services, and details of when you started using the mark if you already have.
4. File Form TM-A online and pay the fee. Online filing has the lower fee, as shown above.
5. Respond to the examination report. The Registry may raise objections. You can reply with arguments or amendments.
6. Publication and opposition. An accepted mark is published so that others can oppose it. If nobody opposes, or you win an opposition, it proceeds to registration.
Timelines vary and can be long, so do not wait to start using the brand. You may use the ™ symbol while the application is pending, but the ® symbol only after registration.
Common Mistakes
- Not searching before filing. A similar existing mark is the most common reason for objections.
- Choosing a descriptive or generic name. Marks that merely describe the product are hard to register.
- Registering in only one class when your business will span several.
- Filing in the founder’s personal name and later changing to the company. Decide who the owner should be from the start, and keep the owner consistent across documents.
- Paying for something that is free. Check the SIPP facilitator route before you hire an agent, and read the scheme terms.
- Ignoring examination replies. Missing a deadline can end the application.
- Using the ® symbol too early. It is for registered marks only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need DPIIT recognition to pay the startup fee?
The fee schedule lists the lower fee for an “individual, startup or small enterprise”. Read the instructions on the form and the Trade Marks Rules to see what proof is asked for. Recognition is needed for SIPP facilitator support. See our DPIIT recognition guide.
How many classes do I need?
It depends on what you sell. Each class has its own fee. A professional can help you pick the right classes, but check the fee schedule for the total cost.
Is a trademark the same as a patent?
No. A trademark protects brand identifiers such as names and logos. A patent protects an invention. Both are covered by the Startup India IPR benefits, which include an 80% rebate on patent filing fees for startups.
Where to Go Next
See the full list of startup benefits in our DPIIT-recognised startup benefits guide, and browse the Startup India guides hub.
Last checked: 26 October 2026 against the IP India Forms and Official Fees page and the Startup India IPR page. This is general information, not legal advice. Fees, forms and procedures change, so confirm on ipindia.gov.in or with a registered trademark agent.
