Trademark Plus vs Trademark Elite

Are you getting started with a new business or planning a rebrand? Registering for a trademark is one of the most important steps in protecting your money-making venture. Registering for a trademark protects your intellectual property and grants you exclusive rights to the name within your industry. So, if you're the first one to think of Airbnb, for example, then that name can be trademarked within the hospitality industry.

There are plenty of things you can trademark too, not just your business name. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a trademark is defined as a "word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others." There are trademarks out there for slogans, logos, company designs, words, phrases, and sounds.

Brand names are some of the most popular trademarks, but there are plenty of ways to protect your property depending on what you're most worried about. And, you don't need to be working on a new company to trademark. If you've been in business for years and want to stand out from the pack, you can trademark your existing logo or brand slogan any time.

If you're thinking this sounds very in-depth, don't worry. The process is pretty simple. A trademark application is just a matter of doing research, filling out the forms, and submitting it to the USPTO. The hard part is waiting. Some trademarks can take six months (or more) to go through the review process. And, there are some pitfalls with applications that can be stressful.

For example, researching to figure out if your chosen business name is in use (or something too similar) can be a time-consuming and frustrating step. Since any marks or slogans that are too similar to existing trademarks will be rejected, you don't want to skip the research. If the USPTO rejects your application, you'll lose the fee you paid to apply. On the bright side, if you find an online trademark registration service, they'll do the work for you, and you don't have to stress at all.

Online trademark registration services can help you or your business protect your intellectual property without all the worry. These services offer faster and more convenient application processes that keep you from running into the pitfalls of applying directly through the USPTO yourself. Services for registering a trademark offer higher success rates, since getting your trademark is not guaranteed. A good trademark registration company will support you through the process. Many online trademark registration companies offer guarantees that ensure you get your trademark or get your money back.

If you're ready to jump into your trademark registration but don't know where to start, we've got you. Here are a few factors that can help you narrow the field as you choose the best online trademark registration company to get your logo, slogan, or design mark protected:

• Cost. Having someone else do the work for you can be a little pricey. Make sure you consider the most important elements of a trademark registration site like help with legal or what extra services are included. This way, you can see if you're getting your money's worth when you pay a professional to complete your trademark application.
• Process. If you're paying someone else to do your trademark application, you want the process to be simple. Zero stress is the goal. Choose a site that offers high success rates with little to no effort from you, so you can sit back and relax while your application is processed by the USPTO.
• Guarantees. Keep an eye out for success guarantees. The best sites out there will offer you a money-back guarantee if your application is rejected by the USPTO. This means the company stands behind its services and will work hard to make sure your trademark is accepted every time.
• Reputation. Check out the reputation of the trademark registration site to see if its track record is as good as it promises. Looking at third-party reviews on trusted sites like Sitejabber or Trustpilot can give you a clear idea of which companies to trust. Of course, check out their ratings on the Better Business Bureau too.

To help you get your next company name listed for your exclusive use, your new slogan registered, or your beautiful logo legally protected, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top trademark registration companies online. This way, you can take the stress (and uncertainties) out of applying for your trademarks. You can hand the hard parts off to trained legal professionals and enjoy the more exciting parts of creating something new for your business or brand!