The most common question we hear from founders and business owners is disarmingly simple: “How much does it actually cost to trademark my brand in Canada?” The honest answer is that it depends on several factors, and the total budget is often bigger than the government fees alone.
This guide breaks down the real 2026 cost of a Canadian trademark, from CIPO government fees through professional fees, common hidden costs, and total budget estimates for do-it-yourself and agent-led filings. Numbers are current as of 2026.
CIPO Government Fees in 2026
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office charges a base fee for every trademark application, plus additional fees for each class of goods or services beyond the first.
Current CIPO fee schedule (online filing):
- First class of goods or services: $491.06 CAD
- Each additional class: $149.04 CAD
Paper filing costs slightly more than online filing. Since nearly all professional filings are done online, most applicants pay the online rates.
These fees are payable to CIPO at the time of filing. If your application is later abandoned or refused, the fees are not refunded.
Nice Classification and Multi-Class Cost Implications
The Nice Classification system divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Your trademark is only protected in the classes you file in. A software company selling SaaS to businesses might file in Class 9 (downloadable software) and Class 42 (software as a service) at minimum, sometimes also Class 35 (business services) and Class 41 (education).
The math adds up quickly. A four-class filing costs $491.06 + $149.04 + $149.04 + $149.04 = $938.18 in CIPO fees alone. Choosing the right classes is a strategic decision, not just a form-filling one.
Under-filing (too few classes) leaves gaps a competitor can exploit. Over-filing (classes you do not actually use) wastes money and creates a non-use vulnerability that a competitor could later use to cancel your registration.
Professional Fees: What You Are Actually Paying For
Professional fees vary significantly. A registered Canadian Trademark Agent typically charges based on scope: number of marks, number of classes, complexity of the goods and services description, and cross-border strategy considerations.
What is included in professional fees at Onley Law:
- Pre-filing review of registrability
- Nice Classification strategy
- Optimized goods and services drafting
- Online filing with CIPO
- Examination monitoring and status updates
- One Office Action response within scope
- Registration certificate management
What is typically extra:
- Multiple Office Actions or complex objections
- Opposition defence (a separate proceeding at the Trademarks Opposition Board)
- Post-registration renewals every 10 years
- Assignment recordation if the mark changes owners
Common Hidden Costs to Budget For
Three common surprises can inflate the total cost of a trademark registration.
Office Actions. A CIPO examiner may raise objections during examination, and you have six months to respond. Response fees range from a small fixed fee for simple technical objections to significant hourly work for complex confusion analysis requiring evidence.
Rebranding costs. If your clearance search catches a fatal conflict, you may need to redesign packaging, update your website, and file under a modified mark. The cost of rebranding often dwarfs the trademark filing fee.
Opposition defence. Once your mark is advertised in the Trademarks Journal, third parties have two months to oppose. Contested oppositions can run into significant fees, though many settle before hearing.
What Is Not Included in the Trademark Cost
The CIPO filing fee does not cover common-law rights enforcement, cross-border filings (each country has its own filing fees), domain name protection, social media handle protection, or design patent protection for product shapes. These are separate strategies that a comprehensive brand protection plan should address.
Similarly, trademark registration does not automatically stop infringement. Enforcement (cease-and-desist letters, litigation, takedown requests) is a separate cost category if and when infringement occurs.
Total Cost Estimates: DIY vs Agent-Led
For a straightforward Canadian trademark in one class:
- DIY filing: $491.06 CIPO fee only, but with meaningful risk of preventable objections, poor goods and services drafting, and no strategic advice
- Agent-led filing: CIPO fees plus professional fees quoted as a fixed fee based on scope
For a multi-class filing, professional fees typically scale less than proportionally (the strategic work is largely the same). Contact us for a fixed-fee quote covering your specific scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum I can spend to trademark a name in Canada?
The absolute minimum is the CIPO government filing fee of $491.06 for a single class, paid at the time of filing. This assumes you draft the application, choose the class correctly, respond to any Office Action, and defend any opposition entirely on your own. Most business owners underestimate the risk and complexity involved in doing all of this without professional help.
Is there a difference in cost between online and paper filing at CIPO?
Yes. Online filing is less expensive than paper filing, and CIPO strongly encourages online filing. Nearly all professional trademark filings in Canada are done online. Paper filing is only used in specific limited circumstances.
How much extra should I budget for a potential Office Action?
Office Action responses vary in cost based on complexity. A straightforward technical objection may be a small fixed fee. Complex confusion objections requiring legal argument and supporting evidence can be significantly more. A reasonable planning approach is to budget an additional 30 to 50 percent of your initial filing fee for a potential Office Action response.
Are Canadian trademark registration costs tax deductible?
For most businesses, trademark registration costs are treated as an intangible capital expenditure and are generally deductible for tax purposes as an eligible capital expenditure, subject to the specific rules that apply to your business structure. This is not tax advice. Consult your accountant for treatment specific to your situation.
Do I have to pay renewal fees to keep my trademark?
Yes. Canadian trademark registrations must be renewed every 10 years to remain in force. CIPO renewal fees apply, plus any professional fees for handling the renewal. A registration allowed to expire cannot be restored except through a new application, which loses the original filing date priority.
Need Help With Your Canadian Trademark?
Onley Law offers fixed-fee trademark registration services led by a registered Canadian Trademark Agent.