How to Trademark a Business Name in Minnesota (2026)

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You can trademark a business name in Minnesota two ways: federal registration with the USPTO gives nationwide rights and the right to use the ® symbol (base application fee $350 per class as of the January 18, 2025 fee restructuring), while a Minnesota Secretary of State registration protects the name only within Minnesota. Both start with a clearance search.

What Trademarking a Business Name Means

A trademark protects a brand identifier — a name, logo, or slogan — that distinguishes your goods or services from others. Trademark rights in the United States come from use in commerce, but registration makes those rights far stronger and easier to enforce. You have two separate registers to choose from: the federal register at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Minnesota's state register at the Secretary of State. They are independent systems, and many businesses use the federal route because it reaches across state lines. For the national overview, see our trademark hub and the glossary for defined terms.

Before anything else, understand the symbols. Anyone who claims rights in a mark may use the ™ symbol, whether or not it is registered. The encircled ® symbol is different: it may be used only after a mark is federally registered with the USPTO. Using ® on an unregistered mark is improper and can undermine an enforcement claim. Registering a business name as a trademark is also distinct from forming an entity or filing a DBA: entity and assumed-name filings do not, by themselves, give you trademark rights against competitors.

Strength matters, too. Not every business name can be registered. The most protectable marks are fanciful, arbitrary, or suggestive — distinctive terms that point to a single source. Names that are merely descriptive of the goods or services are hard to register without proof that consumers associate the term with you (acquired distinctiveness), and generic terms cannot be registered at all. Choosing a distinctive name at the outset makes both the federal and Minnesota applications far smoother and reduces the odds of a refusal from the examining attorney.

Federal Registration With the USPTO

Federal registration is handled entirely through the USPTO's online Trademark Center. A federal registration gives you a legal presumption of ownership and the exclusive nationwide right to use the mark for the goods and services listed, the ability to use the ® symbol, a basis for enforcing the mark in federal court, and a foundation for registering abroad. Because these rights are nationwide, federal registration is usually the better investment for a business that sells beyond Minnesota, online, or plans to grow.

Every application must classify the goods or services under the international (Nice) classification system, and fees are charged per class. As of the USPTO's January 18, 2025 fee restructuring, the base application fee is $350 per class, with additional surcharges in defined situations — for example, when an application provides insufficient information or uses free-form (custom) identifications of goods and services instead of the pre-approved options. Because these amounts and surcharge triggers change, always confirm the current figures on the USPTO trademark fee page before filing rather than relying on a quoted number.

The filing basis you choose also shapes the process. If you are already selling under the name, you file based on use in commerce and submit a specimen showing the mark as customers see it. If you intend to use the name but have not launched, you file on an intent-to-use basis and later submit proof of use before the mark registers. Getting the identification of goods and services right is one of the most important parts of the application: it defines the exact scope of your rights, and an overbroad or vague description invites refusals and delay.

The Application Process, Step by Step

1. Run a comprehensive clearance search. Search the free USPTO Trademark Search database, the Minnesota state trademark records, and common-law sources (business directories, domains, social media) to find conflicting marks before you invest in an application.
2. Classify your goods and services. Identify the correct Nice class or classes and draft a clear identification, ideally from the USPTO's pre-approved ID Manual to avoid surcharges.
3. File through the Trademark Center. Choose a filing basis (use in commerce or intent to use), submit a specimen if you are already using the mark, and pay the base fee per class plus any applicable surcharges. Foreign-domiciled applicants must be represented by a U.S. attorney.
4. Respond to office actions. An examining attorney reviews the application and may issue an office action raising issues such as a likelihood of confusion or a mere-descriptiveness refusal; you must respond by the deadline to keep the application alive.
5. Publication and registration. If approved, the mark publishes in the Official Gazette for a 30-day opposition period; if no one successfully opposes, the mark registers (or, for intent-to-use marks, registers after you file proof of use).

Timelines vary, and the USPTO's published trademark process page is the best guide to current pendency. After registration, you must keep the mark alive with periodic maintenance filings, discussed below. If you are still setting up the business, see how to form an LLC in Minnesota and how to get an EIN.

Minnesota State Trademark Registration

Minnesota also maintains its own trademark and service-mark register through the Secretary of State. A state registration protects the mark only within Minnesota and is generally appropriate when your use of the name is local and you do not need nationwide protection. To register, the mark must actually be used in Minnesota, and you file the Secretary of State's trademark or service-mark application identifying the mark, the goods or services, and the class. For the exact filing fee, consult the Minnesota Secretary of State's current trademark fee schedule rather than relying on a figure that may have changed.

A Minnesota registration does not expand your rights beyond the state, and it does not override a conflicting federal registration. For that reason, businesses that expect to operate across state lines usually prioritize the USPTO route, sometimes adding a state registration for local enforcement convenience. If you have not yet reserved or cleared your business name at the entity level, use the Minnesota business entity search and review the Minnesota articles of organization and Minnesota DBA filing processes, which are separate from trademark rights.

Maintaining and Enforcing Your Mark

A federal registration is not permanent unless you maintain it. The USPTO requires periodic maintenance filings — a declaration of continued use between the fifth and sixth years, and combined renewal and use declarations around each ten-year anniversary. Missing a maintenance deadline causes the registration to be cancelled or expire, so calendar these dates. The USPTO's page on maintaining a registration lists the specific filings and windows.

Registration is only as valuable as your enforcement. As the owner, you are responsible for policing the market, responding to infringers, and deciding when to send demand letters or sue. Continued, consistent use of the mark in commerce is what preserves your rights over time. A trademark is one part of protecting a Minnesota business; pair it with sound tax and entity practices covered in our business tax hub, the Minnesota registered agent requirement, and the operating agreement guide so your brand and your business stand on solid footing.

One practical warning: keep the record accurate. If your business changes hands, changes address, or the entity itself changes, you generally must record assignments and update ownership information with the USPTO so the registration stays enforceable and correspondence reaches you. The same discipline applies to a Minnesota state registration, which carries its own renewal term. Treat trademark maintenance the way you treat your Minnesota annual report and ongoing entity costs — as a recurring calendar obligation, not a one-time filing — and your rights will hold up if you ever need to enforce them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I register a trademark federally or with Minnesota?

Federal USPTO registration gives nationwide rights and lets you use the ® symbol, so it is the stronger choice for most businesses. A Minnesota state registration only protects the mark within Minnesota and is useful when your use is purely local.

What is the difference between the ™ and ® symbols?

Anyone claiming rights in an unregistered mark may use the ™ symbol. Only a mark that is federally registered with the USPTO may use the encircled ® symbol. Using ® before federal registration is improper.

How much does a federal trademark application cost?

As of the USPTO's January 18, 2025 fee restructuring, the base application fee is $350 per class of goods or services, with additional surcharges in some cases. Confirm current amounts on the USPTO fee page before filing.

Do I need a lawyer to file a trademark in Minnesota?

U.S.-domiciled applicants are not required to hire an attorney to file with the USPTO, though many do because clearance, classification, and office actions are technical. Foreign-domiciled applicants must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney.

What law governs trademarks in Minnesota?

Federal registration is governed by the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 and following. State registration in Minnesota is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333, administered by the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Related

• Trademark (cluster hub)
• What is a DBA?
• How to get an EIN
• Business tax basics
• How to form an LLC in Minnesota
• How to trademark a business name in Nebraska (sibling)
• Glossary of legal terms

Sources

1. USPTO — Trademark basics (what a trademark protects, ™ vs ®).
2. USPTO — Trademark, patent, or copyright (scope of rights).
3. USPTO — Trademark fee information ($350 base per class; surcharges).
4. USPTO — Apply online (Trademark Center).
5. USPTO — Trademark Search (clearance search).
6. USPTO — Trademark process (application to registration timeline).
7. USPTO — Maintaining your registration (Sections 8 and 9 filings).
8. USPTO — International (Nice) classes of goods and services.
9. Minnesota SoS — Register a trademark (state registration).
10. Minnesota SoS — Business forms and fees (trademark fee schedule).
11. Minnesota Revisor — Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 (trademarks and service marks).
12. Cornell LII — 15 U.S.C. § 1051 (application for registration).
13. Cornell LII — 15 U.S.C. § 1052 (grounds for refusal).
14. Cornell LII — 15 U.S.C. § 1127 (Lanham Act definitions).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Trademark law is fact-specific, and fees and procedures change; verify current requirements with the USPTO and the Minnesota Secretary of State before acting.