CA · State trademark search
California trademark search & registration
One federal USPTO registration protects a California business nationwide, California included. Search live USPTO records below, then see how the Secretary of State runs the state’s own trademark register and when it’s actually worth using.
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Federal (USPTO) — start here
A federal registration, filed once through the USPTO, gives nationwide rights that include California. It’s the right starting point for almost any business selling across state lines, online, or planning to expand beyond California.
California state registration
California’s state trademark register is run by the Secretary of State — Trademark Online Filing (bizfile). The published filing fee is $70 per class, with registrations renewing every 5 years. It only protects a mark within California’s borders, not nationwide — always confirm the current process and fee on the agency’s own page before filing.
When does a California state trademark make sense?
- Your business genuinely operates only within California — a local shop, restaurant or service business with no plans to sell out of state or online.
- You want fast, low-cost protection now while a federal intent-to-use application is still pending.
- You need to establish California-specific priority for a name ahead of local competitors.
For most brands — especially anything sold online, as software, or shipped across state lines — federal registration is the stronger, more durable choice, and a California filing (if used at all) is a complement to it rather than a substitute.
Other state trademark searches
- Alaska trademark search
- Arizona trademark search
- Arkansas trademark search
- Colorado trademark search
- Connecticut trademark search
- Delaware trademark search
See all states, or read how Brandmity trademark clearance works.