What Does a Trademark Search Actually Cost?
If you're thinking about trademarking your brand name, the first step is a comprehensive search. But prices vary wildly — from free to thousands of dollars. Here's an honest breakdown of what each option actually gets you.
Free Tools
Cost: $0
What you get: Basic exact-match search of the USPTO database. You type in your name and see if someone has the identical registration.
Pros:
- Free
- Instant results
- Good for a quick initial check
Limitations:
- Only catches exact matches — misses phonetic, visual, and semantic conflicts
- Doesn't analyze industry overlap or likelihood of confusion
- No legal analysis or risk assessment
- Misses state registrations and common law marks
Best for: Initial gut check before investing in a deeper search.
Try our free trademark check for a quick first look.
Locrian Brand Score
Cost: $99
What you get: Full brand analysis across nine dimensions, including comprehensive IP strength analysis that goes beyond exact matches. Phonetic similarity, visual similarity, industry-specific conflict analysis, plus eight additional dimensions of brand value.
Pros:
- Affordable for independent creators
- Covers IP strength plus seven more brand dimensions
- Analyzes real conflicts using the full 13+ million record USPTO database
- Provides actionable recommendations, not just a list of conflicts
- Instant results
Limitations:
- Not a legal opinion (no trademark search is, unless it comes from an attorney)
- Doesn't include filing assistance
Best for: Creators, musicians, and small businesses who want a comprehensive brand picture, not just a trademark check. Get your score.
Corsearch / CompuMark / TrademarkNow
Cost: $500-$1,500+ per search
What you get: Professional-grade trademark search report. These are the tools law firms use. Comprehensive coverage of federal, state, and international databases with detailed conflict analysis.
Pros:
- Extremely thorough database coverage
- Includes international marks
- Industry standard for law firms
- Detailed written reports
Limitations:
- Expensive — a single comprehensive search can cost over $1,000
- Reports can be hundreds of pages of raw data
- Still requires legal expertise to interpret
- Focused solely on trademark conflicts — no brand value analysis
Best for: Established businesses with budget for comprehensive legal protection, or when used by a trademark attorney as part of a legal engagement.
Trademark Attorney
Cost: $1,500-$3,000+ (search + opinion letter)
What you get: A licensed attorney conducts or reviews a trademark search and provides a legal opinion on your ability to register and use the name. This is the only option that constitutes legal advice.
Pros:
- Actual legal opinion you can rely on
- Risk assessment from an expert
- Can advise on filing strategy
- Can handle the registration process
Limitations:
- Most expensive option
- Takes days or weeks for results
- Quality varies significantly by attorney
- Overkill for early-stage creators just testing a name
Best for: Brands ready to file, situations with known conflicts that need legal assessment, and high-stakes naming decisions. Find a trademark attorney in our directory.
So Which Should You Choose?
It depends on your stage:
| Stage | Recommended Approach | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Brainstorming names | Free search | $0 |
| Narrowed to a few options | Locrian Score | $99 |
| Ready to file | Attorney review | $1,500+ |
| Complex conflict situation | Attorney + Corsearch | $2,500+ |
The smart play: start broad and cheap, then invest more as you narrow down. Don't spend $2,000 on a comprehensive legal search for a name you haven't committed to. And don't skip the search entirely just because it costs money — a $99 search is a lot cheaper than a $15,000 rebrand. Musicians should check out our step-by-step guide on how to trademark a band name.
Start with a free trademark check, then upgrade to a full Locrian Score when you're ready for the complete brand picture. See our full pricing breakdown for all options.