How much does a trademark cost in Australia?

The cost of a trademark in Australia comes down to two things: the government fees set by IP Australia, and the professional fee you pay a service or attorney to do the work properly. Government fees are charged per class of goods or services, so the single biggest factor in your total is how many classes you need. This guide breaks down every cost, shows you how to keep it low, and gives worked examples for typical Australian businesses.

The two parts of every trademark cost

Whenever you see a trademark price, check whether it includes both parts:

• Government (official) fees — paid to IP Australia. Charged per class. These are the same no matter who lodges your application.
• Professional / service fees — what you pay us (or an attorney) to choose the right classes, draft the wording, and file it correctly the first time. A mistake here is often non-refundable, so the work matters.

A genuine quote always shows both, so you can see exactly where your money goes. Our application service is $450 per application, on top of the government fee for each class.

Government fees, per class

IP Australia charges per class, and the amount depends on how you describe your goods and services:

What you’re paying for	Approx. cost (AUD)	Charged per class?
Standard application — IP Australia pick-list wording	$250	Yes
Standard application — custom wording	$400	Yes
Registration fee (at acceptance)	$0	—
Renewal (every 10 years)	$400	Yes
Late renewal fee (grace period)	$100 / month	Per month

These figures reflect the schedule that took effect on 1 October 2024. IP Australia indexes its fees from time to time, so we confirm the exact amount at lodgement.

Pick-list vs custom wording

The biggest lever on the government fee is the pick-list. IP Australia maintains a list of pre-approved descriptions of goods and services. If everything you sell can be described using those pre-approved terms, you pay the lower $250 per class. If you need custom wording to capture something unusual, that class costs $400.

Choosing pick-list terms wherever possible doesn’t just save $150 per class — it also tends to move through examination faster and with fewer objections, because the wording is already accepted. Part of our job is fitting your real business into pick-list terms where we can, and only using custom wording where it’s genuinely needed. Our class finder is a good starting point for working out which classes you fall into.

Why classes drive the cost

There are 45 classes in total: classes 1–34 cover goods and 35–45 cover services. You only pay for the classes you actually register, so your total scales directly with how many you need.

Most small businesses need 1 to 3 classes. A café selling its own packaged coffee, for example, might need class 30 (the coffee) and class 43 (café services). A clothing label that also runs an online store might need class 25 (clothing) and class 35 (retail services). The class finder can suggest classes from a plain description of your business, and our trademark classes guide explains how the system works.

A word of caution: register the classes that match what you sell and realistically plan to sell, but resist the urge to file in classes “just in case”. Every extra class adds cost, and an unused registration can be vulnerable to removal for non-use down the track.

Worked examples

These examples combine the government fee with our $450 application service. Government fees assume pick-list wording at $250 per class. Confirm exact figures at lodgement.

Scenario	Classes	Govt fee	Our service	Total
Sole trader, one class (e.g. a single product)	1	$250	$450	$700
Café with packaged goods + venue services	2	$500	$450	$950
Clothing brand + online retail store	2	$500	$450	$950
Growing business across three classes	3	$750	$450	$1,200

If any class needs custom wording, add $150 for that class. Our trademark cost calculator builds an estimate around your exact situation in a couple of minutes.

TM Headstart — an optional pre-check

IP Australia also offers TM Headstart, an optional pre-application assessment where an examiner gives an early view on your mark, usually within five business days. It costs about $200 per class for the assessment, then about $130 per class to convert it into a full application (roughly $330 per class all up). It flags registrability problems early, but it does not check whether you might infringe someone else’s existing mark. For that you still need a proper search.

What about searches and objections?

Before you spend anything on filing, it pays to know your brand is actually available. Our search options are:

• Basic name search and advice — free
• Thorough name research — $150
• Logo search — $200

If IP Australia raises an objection (an “adverse report”) after you file, we offer an adverse report review and advice for $150 per trademark. An objection isn’t the end of the road — many are overcome with the right response, and our adverse reports guide explains the process. You can run a free check now with our trademark search tool or read more about searching properly.

Renewal and ongoing costs

A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed every 10 years, indefinitely. Renewal with us is $490 per class in total, which is the $400 IP Australia official fee plus our $90 professional fee.

Miss the renewal deadline and there’s a 6-month grace period, but it carries a $100 per month late fee, so prompt renewal is always cheaper. After the grace period the registration lapses for good. Our renewal calculator shows your exact deadline, and the how long does a trademark last guide covers the full lifecycle.

How to keep your costs down

• Use pick-list wording wherever possible to pay $250 rather than $400 per class.
• Register only the classes you need now and realistically soon — not every class you can imagine.
• Search first. A free or paid search before filing avoids the cost of a doomed application, since government fees are non-refundable.
• Get the wording right the first time. Re-filing after a rejection means paying the government fee again.
• Renew on time to avoid the $100/month late fee.

Common questions

Is there a separate registration fee? No. For applications filed after late 2016, registration is included once your mark is accepted. You pay the application fee up front and nothing further to register.

Are government fees refundable if my application fails? Generally no. That’s why a search and correct class selection up front matter so much.

Does it cost more to trademark a logo than a word? The government fee is the same. Filing a word and a logo as one combined mark is cheaper but only protects that exact combination; filing them separately costs more but gives stronger, more flexible protection.

Do I have to use an attorney? No, you can self-file. But the parts that go wrong — class selection, wording, responding to objections — are usually non-refundable, so professional help is worthwhile for anything important.

Why are some quotes so much cheaper? Often because they quote only the service fee and leave out the government fee, or only cover one class. Always check that a price includes both parts and the number of classes.

Ready to get a precise figure?

Every business is different, so the best way to know your real cost is to price your exact situation. Use our trademark cost calculator for an instant estimate, or talk to us about registering your trademark and we’ll confirm the government fees and classes before you commit.