This is not your question, exactly, but the most vital step is to do a comprehensive US trademark search before spending any money on marketing and merchandising. You do not want to waste time and money on a mark that is strikingly similar to another product or service.
If that is not an issue, I recommend that you trademark your startup shortly after you incorporate. I suggest this for two reasons:
-First, if you’ve done a comprehensive trademark search (which you’ll do during the trademark filing process), you can find out if you’re actually infringing on another company’s mark. This will help to avoid significant time and legal fees in the future.
-Second, although you can claim ownership of your trademark without formally registering with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), your rights are limited to the geographic region where your trademark is used. So, by formally filing, you can have protection across the US.
I really do recommend working with an attorney familiar with the trademark process to help you through the process.
A trademark attorney can
-Complete a thorough trademark search
-Fill out the application
-Ensure that deadlines are met
-Guarantee that the process has been completed properly
Source: Raad Ahmed - Quora
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