The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: A trademark protects your business name at a federal level, preventing other businesses nationwide from using the same name. You can check whether your desired business name is already trademarked by heading to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website and entering the business name into the trademark electronic search system (TESS). If another business in your industry uses the name you want, you must choose a new one. Once you’ve chosen a business name, you can reserve it with your state to protect it from use until you’re ready to form your business. While the rules vary state by state, you can typically reserve your business name online through your secretary of state’s official website for an average of 120 days. Name reservation fees can range from $10 to $50. . Pick a registered agent A registered agent is an individual or business responsible for accepting legal notices on your business’s behalf. You can generally...