You can trademark without an attorney.

1. 5 Secrets About Trademarks

2. 1. You do NOT have to Hire an Attorney

3. Go to www.uspto.gov, click on the “Trademarks” menu item, click on the links under “First-Time Filers, Start Here”. The videos are great, HOWEVER, they are not a “walk-through”. HINT: For step by step instructions including a walk through, workbook, tax strategy, sample royalty agreement and more go to www.AccountLinks.BIZ and sign up for portal access.

4. 2. Trademarks Can Lead to Tax and Estate Planning Benefits

5. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs do not trademark and even fewer define the ownership optimally. HINT: Own the trademark as an individual and lease it back to your business through a “Royalty Agreement”.

6. 3. One Trademark Does NOT Protect You in All Industries.

7. Having a trademark for your business name in the “trucking” class code does not automatically protect you from someone else using that same name for their brand selling “t-shirts”. HINT: You may want to get the trademark for your particular industry and then a trademark in class code “025” which is for shirts.

8. 4. “Unique and Fanciful” is Key in Trademarking.

9. If the business name is “Best Plumbing” and the business is “plumbing services” it will be difficult, if not impossible, to trademark. ALSO, avoid words too closely related to other businesses. HINTS: Find words that are descriptive but cleverly unique such as: “Foster the American Dream” (real estate agent whose last name is “Foster”). Do not use stock graphics for logos - get a custom logo made for you.

10. 5. A Trademark on a Business Name is also Called a “Wordmark”.

11. On a sound, such as your jingle, it is called a “Soundmark”. Wordmarking, Soundmarking, etc commonly are referred to as “trademarking”. HINT: You might consider “Wordmarking” your domain name (URL), business name, motto, slogan and, of course, trademarking your logo.