The recent economic recession has forced many Americans to rely on their creativity and ambition simply to make ends meet. Starting a small business or a home based business has become an increasingly attractive option for thousands of entrepreneurial minded individuals. While this wave of innovation promises plenty of opportunities for those willing to take the risk, there are a number of factors which must be considered before electing to start your own small business. The notion of trademarking your business and its associated proprietary ideas might sound farfetched to many aspiring business owners, but without a working knowledge of the trademark process your creative vision is vulnerable to various types of infringement. By taking the time to properly research the concept of trademark application, before launching your small business venture, you can be sure that your unique products or services are legally protected.
The first step to understanding the importance of trademarking your business is to fully acquaint yourself with what exactly a trademark is. By visiting the USPTO’s website at http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/trademarks/faq.html you will find that “A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or device that is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others.” If you hope to brand your new small business with a specific logo, slogan or phrase, it is essential to trademark these identifying features so that competing companies are not permitted to exploit your hard work. In today’s ever evolving marketplace, successfully branding your business so that it stands out in the minds of consumers is the most important step to assuring steady patronage. Failure to include trademark planning during the preparatory stages of your business venture is a fatal oversight, one which can easily result in a company failing even before it gets off of the ground.
While the legal intricacies of the trademark application process may appear daunting to many hopeful businessmen and businesswomen, the power of the internet has leveled the proverbial playing field. Today, a simple online search will provide you with a number of convenient, affordable and legitimate legal services which specialize in catering to the needs of small business owners. Websites like LegalZoom.com, TrademarksEtc.com and Trademarkia.com offer users the ability to search federal databases and the millions of trademarks held within to determine if their idea is truly distinctive. When you have found that your business logo or slogan can be trademarked, protecting your vision is as simple as filling out a straightforward application and paying a reasonable fee. These trademark application services have become increasingly popular as growing numbers of Americans turn to entrepreneurism to help support their families. LegalZoom.com, for example, has enabled over 75,000 businesses to file successful trademark applications, while TrademarksEtc.com offers a two-step process which costs only $149 to secure a trademark. If you have a great idea for a new company, you need to trademark your business now to assure that the fruits of your creative vision are safeguarded.
Jamie Carlson writes for Borghese Legal, a Las Vegas Business Attorney with a focus on intellectual property and transactional law.