How to Trademark a Business Name in Nevada (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 Nevada two ways: register a state trademark or service mark with the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS Chapter 600 for a $100-per-class fee, or file a federal application with the USPTO through TEAS for nationwide rights. Search existing names and marks first, then file in the class that covers your goods or services. Federal registration is broader and generally more valuable.

Two Ways to Trademark a Name in Nevada

A trademark protects the words, logos, or symbols that identify the source of your goods or services. In Nevada you can protect a business name at two levels. The first is a state registration with the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS Chapter 600, which covers trademarks and service marks used within the state. The second is a federal registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which grants rights across the entire country. Many Nevada businesses ultimately want the federal registration, but the state option is cheaper and can be useful for a purely local operation.

An important point up front: registering your business name as an LLC in Nevada or filing a DBA does not create trademark rights. Entity and trade-name registration only tell the state who is doing business; trademark rights come from using the mark in commerce and, ideally, registering it as a trademark. To understand the concepts first, read the trademark hub, the what is a DBA explainer, and the glossary.

Search Before You File

Before spending any filing fee, run a clearance search. You are checking whether a confusingly similar name already exists for related goods or services - if it does, your application can be refused and you could face an infringement claim. Search in two places. First, use Nevada's SilverFlume portal and the state business entity search to see registered entities, trade names, and state marks. Second, search the federal USPTO trademark database for existing federal applications and registrations, because a federal mark can block your use nationwide even if nothing similar is registered in Nevada.

A thorough search looks beyond exact matches to similar spellings, sounds, and meanings within the same class of goods or services. If the search is clean, you can move forward; if it surfaces close marks, consider adjusting your name. For the general process, see our trademark search guide and the how to trademark a business name hub, which apply the same steps in any state such as our Alabama trademark guide.

Nevada State Trademark Registration (NRS Chapter 600)

Nevada's trademark law lives in NRS Chapter 600. To register a state mark you file a trademark or service mark application with the Nevada Secretary of State, describe the mark and the goods or services it covers, identify the class, state the date you first used the mark, and attach a specimen showing the mark as actually used. The Nevada Secretary of State charges a registration fee of $100 per class of goods or services, so a mark that spans multiple classes costs proportionally more. Confirm the current fee and any renewal cycle directly on the nvsos.gov trademarks and trade names page, since state fees change.

A Nevada registration protects the mark only within Nevada. It gives you a public record of your claim and a basis to enforce the mark against later Nevada users, but it does nothing outside the state's borders. That limitation is the main reason growing businesses move on to federal registration. If your customers or competitors are all in Nevada, though, a state mark can be a sensible, low-cost first step. State registration is also faster than the federal process, which can take many months to reach registration, so some owners file the Nevada mark for an immediate record while the federal application works its way through examination.

Keep in mind that a state registration does not expand your rights beyond what your actual use supports. Nevada, like every state, ultimately protects the mark based on use in commerce; the registration is evidence of that use and its priority date, not a substitute for it. If you stop using the mark, the rights can lapse regardless of the paperwork on file.

Federal USPTO Registration Through TEAS

For nationwide protection you register with the USPTO. Applications are filed electronically through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). In the application you identify the owner, describe the mark, list the goods or services and their international class, state the basis for filing (actual use in commerce or a bona fide intent to use), and submit a specimen if you are already using the mark. The USPTO charges its fee per class; the exact amount depends on the application option you choose, so confirm the current fee schedule on the USPTO apply page rather than relying on a figure that may have changed.

After you file, a USPTO examining attorney reviews the application and may issue an office action raising legal issues; you must respond within the deadline or the application goes abandoned. If the mark clears examination it is published for opposition, and if no one successfully opposes it, the USPTO registers the mark. A federal registration lets you use the (R) symbol, provides nationwide constructive notice of your rights, and gives you access to federal court. Review the USPTO trademark basics and the Cornell LII overview of trademark law to understand what registration does and does not cover.

TM vs. R, Classes, and Choosing Your Scope

The symbols signal the status of your rights. You may use TM (for goods) or SM (for services) at any time to assert a claim to the mark, even with no registration at all. The (R) symbol is reserved for marks that the USPTO has actually registered - using it before federal registration is improper. Classes matter because both Nevada and the USPTO charge fees per class and because your registration only protects the goods or services you actually list.

Choose state-only registration if your business is purely local and cost is the priority; choose federal registration if you sell across state lines, online, or plan to grow. Many owners file both - a state mark for immediate local record and a federal application for lasting nationwide rights. For related steps, see what is a DBA, forming a Nevada LLC, and the Nevada business license guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I trademark a business name in Nevada?

You have two routes. Register a state trademark or service mark with the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS Chapter 600 for Nevada-only protection, or file a federal application with the USPTO through TEAS for nationwide rights. Search existing marks first, then file in the class that covers your goods or services.

How much does a Nevada state trademark cost?

The Nevada Secretary of State charges a trademark or service mark registration fee of $100 per class of goods or services. Because the fee is per class, registering a mark that spans several classes costs more. Confirm the current amount on the Nevada Secretary of State website before filing.

What is the difference between a state and federal trademark?

A Nevada state registration under NRS Chapter 600 protects the mark only within Nevada. A federal USPTO registration gives nationwide rights, the ability to use the (R) symbol, and access to federal court. Federal protection is broader and generally more valuable for businesses selling across state lines.

Do I need to search before I file a trademark?

Yes. Search the Nevada business and trademark records through SilverFlume and search the USPTO trademark database before filing. A clearance search reveals confusingly similar marks that could block your application or expose you to an infringement claim later.

When can I use the TM versus the R symbol?

You can use the TM symbol on goods or SM on services at any time to claim rights, even without a registration. The federal registration symbol (R) may be used only after the USPTO has registered the mark. Using (R) before federal registration is improper.

Does registering a business name in Nevada give me a trademark?

No. Forming an LLC or filing a DBA in Nevada registers the name for entity purposes but does not create trademark rights. Trademark protection comes from a separate state or federal trademark registration, or from actually using the mark in commerce.

Related

• Trademark (cluster hub)
• How to Trademark a Business Name
• Trademark Search
• What is a DBA?
• How to Form an LLC in Nevada
• Trademark a Business Name in Alabama (sibling)

Sources

1. Nevada Secretary of State - Trademarks and Trade Names (state registration, $100 per class).
2. Nevada Secretary of State - SilverFlume Business Portal (business and mark search).
3. Nevada Secretary of State - Start a Business (entity and name registration).
4. Justia - Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 600, Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks.
5. USPTO - Apply Online (TEAS).
6. USPTO - Search Trademark Database.
7. USPTO - Trademark Basics.
8. USPTO - What Is a Trademark?
9. USPTO - Trademark Fee Information.
10. USPTO - Trademark, Service Mark, and Registration Symbols (TM, SM, and (R)).
11. USPTO - State Trademark Information Links.
12. USPTO - Goods and Services and Classes.
13. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute - Trademark (Wex).
14. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute - Service mark (Wex).
15. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute - 15 U.S. Code § 1051, Application for registration.

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or trademark professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Nevada Secretary of State and the USPTO before acting.