Most business owners don’t realise that unless you have secured your name and logo through registering a trademark that you may not actually own your own brand.
Registering at Companies House is not enough to stop somebody else using your logo and claiming it as their own.
Please take a look at the following website.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm.htm
The Intellectual Property Office, are spending time informing business owners of the benefits of registering their business logo as a Trademark,. If you get the opportunity to go along to one of their seminars it is highly recommended.
Business Wales have advisors that can also help you with Intellectual property or patents as it was formerly known. http://business.wales.gov.uk/
To register a trademark is quite simple and costs £170 for 10 years, then you renew after that. You don’t need to be Kellogg’s or Tesco to see the Importance of this registration, the trade mark registration will increase the value of your business should you wish to sell it, plus you will definitely need it if you have planned to set up a franchise of your business, again this increases the value of the business.
If you have ever watched Dragons Den, it is one of the first questions the Dragons will ask the owner of the business. There are many options for you to protect but starting with your name should be the first point for increasing your business success, and definitely its value.
This blog is intended for information purposes only and is only advice from past experience, you may have other suggestions of your own. It is not intended to be used to make all of your business decisions but as a guide only.
