5 Benefits of Trade Mark Registration for Early Stage Businesses

Emily Young

• 4 June 2021
• 28 June 2021
• 5 min read

Trade marks are a great way to protect your business’ intellectual property (IP) and help establish your brand’s reputation. Trade mark registration can help protect your brand assets and make your business stand out from competitors. As a new or early stage business, you might wonder whether registering a trade mark is necessary so early in your business’ life. With so many benefits to registering a trade mark, it is never too early to register a trade mark for your business. This article will take you through five commercial benefits of trade mark registration for early stage businesses.

Protect Your Ideas

Protecting your business assets with a trade mark early on can help prevent others from ‘stealing’ your idea. While a trade mark will not protect your idea itself, it is a great way to protect your brand as a whole, helping others to associate your goods or service with your business. This is essential for early stage businesses trying to get a foot in the door and stand out amongst the competition. A strong, unique trade mark will help protect your brand, strengthening your place as a competitive business and increasing the value of your business’ assets.

Stand Out from the Crowd

Trade mark registration can help your business stand out from the crowd. This is particularly important for if you are an early stage business trying to make a name for yourself and distinguish yourself from your competitors. A consistent and well-developed trade mark registration can help give your brand a competitive edge, allowing you to expand your business and further your brand’s reputation in the early stages. From a marketing perspective, your business’ brand is the most important element. It is crucial that you protect it as soon as possible.

Establish a Good Reputation

Establishing your business’ reputation early on will help you succeed in the long run. Trade marking your brand assets is an excellent way to show that you are serious about your business from the start. This can help to: 

• encourage investors to consider investing in your business; and 
• inspire others to want to work for you and with you. 

A positive and unique brand image will help people remember your business and its purpose, making your business stand out in a competitive market even in the early stages.

Prevent Legal Disputes

Protecting your IP with a trade mark in the early stage of your business can help prevent legal issues in the long run. With a registered trade mark, you can operate your business knowing you have not infringed on someone else’s trade mark. For early stage businesses still developing, avoiding legal disputes can help save you money and preserve your reputation while it is still growing. Registering your trade mark will also give you rights of enforcement, preventing others from using your trade mark for themselves and using your business’ reputation for their own benefit. 

Prepare to Expand

Trade mark registration for early stage businesses is a great way to lay down solid foundations for future expansion. This might include: 

• franchising your business; 
• expanding to other markets; or 
• licensing use of your goods or services. 

Each of these will result in someone else using your brand’s IP assets, which is only possible to do safely with trade mark registration and a distinct brand. Even if it seems premature, it is never too early to think big and consider all potential avenues of expansion. 

Key Takeaways

It is never too early to protect your assets with a trade mark. For early stage businesses, protecting your IP with a trade mark has a number of commercial benefits. These include:

• protecting your ideas from being ‘stolen’ by others;
• helping you stand out from competitors;
• allow you to establish a good reputation;
• prevent potential future legal disputes; and
• lay the groundwork for future expansion.

For help protecting the assets of your early stage business, our experienced trade mark lawyers can help. Get in touch with them on 1300 657 423 or fill out the form on this page.

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