NC · State trademark search
North Carolina trademark search & registration
One federal USPTO registration protects a North Carolina business nationwide, North Carolina 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 North Carolina. It’s the right starting point for almost any business selling across state lines, online, or planning to expand beyond North Carolina.
North Carolina state registration
North Carolina’s state trademark register is run by the Secretary of State — Trademarks Division. The published filing fee is $75 per class, with registrations renewing every 10 years. It only protects a mark within North Carolina’s borders, not nationwide — always confirm the current process and fee on the agency’s own page before filing.
When does a North Carolina state trademark make sense?
- Your business genuinely operates only within North Carolina — 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 North Carolina-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 North Carolina filing (if used at all) is a complement to it rather than a substitute.
Other state trademark searches
- New Jersey trademark search
- New Mexico trademark search
- New York trademark search
- North Dakota trademark search
- Ohio trademark search
- Oklahoma trademark search
See all states, or read how Brandmity trademark clearance works.