Trademarks for restaurants
Restaurant names are service marks. A federal registration covers the whole country, which matters if you plan a second location or a franchise.
Classes a restaurant usually needs
43
Food & Hospitality
Restaurant, bar, take-out and catering services.
30
Staple Foods & Beverages
If you sell a packaged product such as a signature sauce or coffee blend.
35
Business & Retail Services
Usually only for franchising or business services offered to other operators.
You pay $350 per class, so file only in the classes for what you actually sell or offer.
Things to know first
- Common words for food ("Grill", "Kitchen", "Eats") are usually weak on their own, so the distinctive part of your name does the work.
- A name already in use by a restaurant in another state can still block yours, even if theirs isn’t federally registered.
Common questions
Which trademark class does a restaurant need?
Most often Class 43 (Food & Hospitality). Restaurant, bar, take-out and catering services. Add other classes only for the other goods or services you actually offer under the name.
How much does it cost to trademark a restaurant name?
The USPTO fee is $350 per class. With TradeMaker, a licensed attorney reviews, signs and files the application, with plans from $399 plus the USPTO fee.
Other businesses
General information, not legal advice. The USPTO decides the final classification.