AS | Ankit Sarawagi|Founder, CFOmatrix·June 2026·11 min read | Updated Jun 2026 |
- The government e-filing fee is ₹4,500 per class, per mark for individuals, DPIIT startups and Udyam/MSME small enterprises, and ₹9,000 for others. Physical filing is higher.
- The fee is charged per class, per mark: two classes means you pay the per-class fee twice.
- A valid Udyam (MSME) or DPIIT Startup certificate halves the government fee, but only if it is in the applicant’s name and attached at filing.
- Professional fees are extra: roughly ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 for filing, and more only if an objection or opposition arises.
- You can self-file on ipindiaonline.gov.in with a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate and pay only the government fee. Verify current fees on ipindia.gov.in.
| ₹4,500 Government e-filing fee per class for individuals, startups and MSMEs | ₹9,000 Government e-filing fee per class for companies, LLPs and larger entities | ~50% Concession on the government fee for Udyam/MSME and DPIIT startups |
To keep the maths concrete we will follow one brand: Brewly, a small D2C coffee startup that wants to protect both its name and its logo across two NICE classes (Class 30 for coffee and Class 35 for retail). We will use Brewly to show how the per-class, per-mark fee adds up, and how the MSME concession changes the total.
The Government Fee: What You Actually Pay the Registry
The government trademark filing fee in India is fixed and public. As of 2026, the e-filing fee on Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class, per mark for an Individual, a DPIIT-recognised Startup or a Small Enterprise (Udyam/MSME-registered), and ₹9,000 per class, per mark for everyone else (companies, LLPs and larger entities). Filing on paper at the Registry costs more: ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 respectively.
This fee is set under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 and paid online at ipindiaonline.gov.in. It is the only fee that is non-negotiable; everything else (search, professional help, replying to objections) is optional or situational.
| Applicant type | E-filing (per class, per mark) | Physical filing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Startup (DPIIT-recognised) | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Small Enterprise (Udyam/MSME) | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Company, LLP, others | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
Always file online. E-filing is cheaper, faster and gives you an instant filing number and date, from which you can immediately use the TM symbol. Paper filing costs ₹500 to ₹1,000 more per class and offers no advantage. Confirm the live fee on ipindia.gov.in before you pay, as government fees can be revised.
Why the Fee Is “Per Class, Per Mark”
The single most misunderstood part of trademark cost is the phrase per class, per mark. The government fee is not a flat charge for “a trademark”; it is multiplied by two things: how many marks you file and how many classes each is registered in.
- Per mark: your brand name and your logo are usually two separate marks (a word mark and a device mark). Protecting both means two filings, each with its own fee.
- Per class: goods and services are grouped under the NICE classification into 45 classes (1 to 34 for goods, 35 to 45 for services). If your business spans two classes, you pay the per-class fee twice.
Multi-class applications are allowed (one application covering several classes), but this is a convenience, not a discount: the fee still equals the per-class rate times the number of classes.
Government fee = per-applicant rate × number of marks × number of classes.
Brewly wants its name (word mark) and logo (device mark) in two classes, as an Udyam-registered MSME. That is ₹4,500 × 2 marks × 2 classes = ₹18,000 in government fees. As a non-concession company it would be ₹9,000 × 2 × 2 = ₹36,000.
The 50% Concession: MSME, Udyam and DPIIT Startup
The lower ₹4,500 fee is a roughly 50% concession on the government fee, and it is the single biggest lever a founder has to cut trademark cost. You qualify if you file as an Individual, a DPIIT-recognised Startup, or a Small Enterprise registered under Udyam (MSME).
The catch is that the concession depends on who files. A private limited company with no Udyam registration pays the full ₹9,000 even if the founder personally would have qualified. So decide the applicant before you file.
How to claim the lower fee
- Get the right registration first. Obtain a valid Udyam (MSME) certificate or a DPIIT Startup recognition certificate in the name of the entity that will own the mark, or simply file as an individual.
- File TM-A in the correct applicant name. The applicant on the form must match the certificate. A mismatch loses the concession or invites an objection.
- Attach the certificate at filing. Upload the Udyam or DPIIT certificate with the application so the Registry applies the ₹4,500 rate.
- Make sure it is valid on the filing date. An expired or pending certificate will not get you the lower fee.
If you do not yet have Udyam registration, getting it is free and quick, and it pays for itself the moment you file a trademark. For Brewly across two marks and two classes, the concession saves ₹18,000 in government fees alone (₹18,000 instead of ₹36,000). The same Udyam certificate also unlocks other MSME benefits, so this is rarely a close call.
Professional and Attorney Fees (Optional but Useful)
Beyond the government fee, most businesses pay a trademark attorney or agent to handle the filing. This is optional: a proprietor can self-file on ipindiaonline.gov.in with a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate and pay nothing but the government fee. But professional help is useful for the search, picking the right classes, drafting the goods/services list and replying to objections.
As a guide, professional fees for a straightforward filing in India typically run ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 per mark, depending on the provider and whether a proper search and class advice are included. Cheaper “₹999 trademark” offers usually cover only data entry and exclude the search and any objection reply, which is where the real value sits.
| Cost item | Typical range | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | ₹4,500 or ₹9,000 / class / mark | Always |
| Search + advice | ₹0 (DIY) to ~₹5,000 | Recommended before filing |
| Filing (professional) | ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 / mark | If an attorney files for you |
| Objection reply | ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 | Only if Examiner objects |
| Opposition defence | ₹20,000+ | Only if a third party opposes |
If an attorney files on your behalf, you will also sign Form TM-48 (power of attorney), which authorises the agent. There is no separate government fee for TM-48 when filed with the application. If you self-file, you do not need TM-48 at all.
What Objections and Oppositions Add to the Cost
Two events can push your trademark cost above the base case, and it helps to know the difference because they are often confused.
- An objection is raised by the Registry’s Examiner in the Examination Report, usually on absolute grounds (Section 9) or relative grounds (Section 11). You reply within 30 days. There is no separate government fee for the reply; the cost is professional time, roughly ₹3,000 to ₹15,000, plus a possible show-cause hearing.
- An opposition is filed by a third party after your mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal (there is a 4-month opposition window). Defending an opposition is a full proceeding with evidence and hearings, so professional fees commonly run ₹20,000 or more.
The good news: a clean mark, chosen after a proper search and filed in the right class, often sails through with neither. A registration that faces no objection and no opposition typically completes in about 6 to 18 months and is valid 10 years.
Skipping the search to save a few thousand rupees is a false economy. A clash discovered after filing can cost you an objection reply, an opposition, or a refused mark and a wasted government fee. The search is the cheapest insurance in the whole process.
Worked Total-Cost Examples
Here is how the pieces add up in practice. All figures assume e-filing and the concession rate (₹4,500 per class, per mark) unless stated, and exclude objection or opposition costs, which most clean filings avoid.
| Scenario | Government fee | Professional fee | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single class, single mark, DIY (MSME) | ₹4,500 | ₹0 | ~₹4,500 |
| Single class, single mark, attorney (MSME) | ₹4,500 | ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 | ~₹7,500 to ₹19,500 |
| Brewly: 2 marks, 2 classes, DIY (MSME) | ₹18,000 | ₹0 | ~₹18,000 |
| Brewly: 2 marks, 2 classes, attorney (MSME) | ₹18,000 | ~₹12,000 to ₹40,000 | ~₹30,000 to ₹58,000 |
| Company, no concession: 1 mark, 1 class, attorney | ₹9,000 | ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 | ~₹12,000 to ₹24,000 |
The pattern is clear: the government fee scales with marks and classes, the concession halves that fee, and professional fees are a choice. Self-filing a single clean mark can cost as little as ₹4,500 all-in; a multi-mark, multi-class brand handled by an attorney is a few tens of thousands.
Founder Watch-Outs That Quietly Raise the Cost
Most cost surprises come from a handful of avoidable mistakes. Watch for these before you file.
| Filing in the wrong applicant name |
If your company files but has no Udyam registration, you pay the full ₹9,000 per class. Decide the applicant (individual, MSME entity or DPIIT startup) before filing so you keep the concession.
| Choosing too many classes “to be safe” |
Every extra class multiplies the government fee. File only in the classes that match your real goods and services; you can always add classes later as the business expands.
| Forgetting the 10-year renewal |
Registration lasts 10 years and is renewed via Form TM-R. The renewal fee is per class, per mark and higher than the application fee. Diarise it: renew within the year before expiry, or restore within a year after expiry with a surcharge.
“A trademark is one of the cheapest serious assets a founder can buy. The government fee starts at ₹4,500; the real cost of skipping it is losing your own brand name to someone else.”
Ankit Sarawagi, CFOmatrixFrequently Asked Questions
How much does trademark registration cost in India in 2026?
The government e-filing fee is ₹4,500 per class, per mark for an Individual, a DPIIT-recognised Startup or an Udyam/MSME-registered Small Enterprise, and ₹9,000 per class, per mark for companies, LLPs and other larger entities. Physical filing costs more (₹5,000 or ₹10,000). On top of the government fee you may pay professional or attorney fees of roughly ₹3,000 to ₹15,000, and extra cost only if there is an objection or opposition. Always verify current fees on ipindia.gov.in.
What is the government trademark fee per class in India?
The government fee is charged per class, per mark. For e-filing it is ₹4,500 for individuals, DPIIT startups and Udyam/MSME small enterprises, and ₹9,000 for everyone else. If you file in two classes you pay the per-class fee twice. Multi-class applications are allowed, but the fee still multiplies by the number of classes.
How do I get the 50% MSME or startup concession on trademark fees?
To pay the lower ₹4,500 fee instead of ₹9,000, apply as an Individual, or attach a valid Udyam (MSME) registration certificate or a DPIIT Startup recognition certificate when you file TM-A online. The certificate must be in the name of the applicant and valid on the filing date. Filing in the wrong applicant name (for example a private limited company without Udyam) loses the concession.
Can I register a trademark myself in India to save money?
Yes. A proprietor can self-file on ipindiaonline.gov.in using a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate, paying only the government fee (from ₹4,500 per class). You will need applicant KYC, the logo image for a device mark, the list of goods or services and class, the date of first use, and the Udyam or DPIIT certificate to claim the lower fee. A trademark attorney is optional but useful for the search, choosing classes and replying to objections.
What does it cost if my trademark gets an objection or opposition?
An objection is raised by the Registry’s Examiner in the Examination Report; replying to it usually adds professional fees of roughly ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 and there is no separate government fee for the reply. An opposition is filed by a third party after publication and is more expensive, often ₹20,000 or more in professional fees over the proceeding, plus hearings. Most clean applications face neither.
How much does it cost to renew a trademark in India?
A trademark registration lasts 10 years and is renewed using Form TM-R. The government renewal fee is charged per class, per mark and is higher than the application fee, so budget for it every decade. If you miss the deadline, restoration is possible within one year after expiry with a surcharge. Check the current TM-R fee on ipindia.gov.in before you file.
Is the government trademark fee the same for a word mark and a logo?
Yes. The government fee is the same whether you file a word mark (the text itself) or a device mark (a specific logo or stylised design). The fee depends on the applicant type and the number of classes, not on the kind of mark. If you want to protect both the name and the logo separately, however, those are two marks and the fee applies to each.
Fee figures are general guidance for India as of 2026 and government fees can be revised. This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current trademark fees and rules on ipindia.gov.in and consult a qualified trademark attorney for your specific situation.
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AS | Founder, CFOmatrix | Finance Strategy & Equity Compliance CFOmatrix is a knowledge platform focused on how finance actually works inside growing companies. Every insight is shaped by real operating experience across startups and growth-stage companies, including cross-border setups. |