Q: Hire a Lawyer or a Filing Service to Trademark My Brand?
“The fewer surprises you have in the trademark process, the less expensive it becomes.”
Somewhere right now, a business owner has multiple tabs open on their laptop: one is for the USPTO, one is for an online trademark filing service, and one is maybe even a trademark attorney's website they heard about.
All leading to tackling the same To Do: Start Registering My Trademark.
Two of those tabs are more alike than you'd think. And they're probably not the two you assumed.
In this episode, I break down what actually separates DIY filing, an online trademark filing service, and hiring a lawyer (including who's on the hook once your application is submitted). You'll hear the three questions to ask before you pay anyone a dollar, and why filing the application is step one, not the finish line.
If you're trying to protect your brand name and aren't sure which lane fits, start here.
Topics covered in this podcast episode:
DIY trademark filing by applying with the USPTO: is this a valid option?
What online trademark filing services do (and don't) include
Hiring a trademark attorney: what "attorney of record" really means
3 questions to ask before you pay for trademark help
Why filing your application is step one, not the finish line
Attorney-filed vs. DIY approval rates, per a UNC School of Law study
How to tell which lane actually fits your brand and budget
New Here?
I'm Chelsea Fournier—a U.S. trademark attorney for business owners and credentialed professionals who've built something worth protecting. I work with therapists, coaches, consultants, speakers, and other service providers and practitioners who are past the idea stage—established enough that a name, logo, or tagline has real weight behind it.
Trademark work is the whole of my practice, not a service tacked onto something else. Every engagement moves through the same five stages — consultation, search, filing, intent-to-use, and maintenance — and I meet clients wherever they're starting in that process.
→ If you're not sure trademark protection makes sense yet, or just want clarity on timing and cost, the Free Consultation is a no-pressure place to start.
→ If you need to know whether your name, logo, or tagline is actually available, the Trademark Strategy Session and Clearance Report + Call screen for conflicts before you invest any further.
→ If you're ready to protect what you've built, Filing Your Application and the intent-to-use filings that follow get your mark on record the right way.
→ If you already have a registration, Registration & Maintenance keeps it active and enforceable, so the protection holds up long after the paperwork's done.
Wherever you're starting, there's a path that fits. Explore my Services + Flat Fee Pricing Schedule for more details.
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