Trademark Class 35 : Advertising, Business & Consulting Services

Trademark Class 35 is one of the 45 categories under the Nice Classification system used by the Indian Trade Marks Registry. It covers services related to advertising, business management, business administration, and office functions, including any service rendered by a person or organisation whose main purpose is helping run or promote a commercial enterprise.

In simple terms, if your business involves advertising, marketing, retail, consulting, or back-office support for other businesses, Class 35 is usually the right category for your trademark registration.

Class 35 is broad and includes several categories of business-facing services:

Advertising and promotion: ad agencies, digital marketing, SEO, social media marketing, sales promotion, and public relations.

Business management and consultancy: management consulting, HR and recruitment consultancy, business strategy, and organisational advice.

Retail, wholesale and e-commerce: online marketplaces, retail stores, and wholesale trading of goods for the benefit of customers.

Administrative and office support: bookkeeping, data processing, secretarial services, payroll, and document management.

A trademark consultant can help you identify exactly which of these descriptions match your business before filing.

Class 35 is best suited for advertising and digital marketing agencies, business and management consultants, HR and recruitment firms, retail chains and e-commerce platforms, franchise businesses, and companies offering back-office or BPO support.

If your brand is service-based rather than product-based and primarily helps other businesses operate, promote, or sell, Class 35 is typically the correct filing category. Reviewing the different types of trademarks can also help you confirm whether a word mark, logo, or combination mark suits your brand best.

The official government fee for filing a trademark application under Class 35 is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, sole proprietors, startups recognised by DPIIT, and MSMEs, and ₹9,000 per class for companies, LLPs, and partnership firms, when filed online.

Professional filing assistance charges are usually separate and depend on the complexity of your application. You can check the complete trademark registration fee structure for a full cost breakup before you apply.

Yes. Class 35 specifically includes the "bringing together of goods for the benefit of others" so that customers can view and purchase them conveniently, whether through a physical retail store, a wholesale operation, or an online marketplace or e-commerce app.

This is why most online sellers, D2C brands, and marketplace platforms in India file under Class 35 to protect their brand name in a retail and promotional context.

Class 35 does not cover services or evaluations that do not directly relate to the working or management of a commercial enterprise. Some commonly confused exclusions include:

Financial services such as banking, insurance, and investment advisory, which fall under Class 36.

Website design, hosting, and IT development, which are classified under Class 42.

Training, coaching, and education services, which belong to Class 41.

Physical advertising products like printed brochures or signage boards, which fall under Class 16, 9, or 20 depending on the material.

Filing under the wrong class can leave your brand unprotected in the category that actually matters, so it's worth getting professional guidance before submission.

Yes, digital marketing, SEO, SEM, social media management, and influencer marketing services are all included within the advertising and promotional scope of Class 35, since they exist to promote and market goods or services on behalf of a client.

Agencies offering these services should describe them precisely in their application (for example, "online advertising services" or "search engine optimisation for business promotion") rather than using vague terms, to avoid objections from the Registry.

Class 35 covers general business, management, and operational consultancy — for example, HR consulting, strategy advisory, or marketing consultancy. Class 36, on the other hand, is reserved for financial, insurance, banking, and real estate related consultancy, such as investment advisory or tax and financial planning services.

If your consulting business only offers operational or marketing advice, Class 35 is correct. If you also provide financial or investment advisory services, you may need to file in both Class 35 and Class 36 to fully protect your brand.

For an individual or sole proprietor applicant, you typically need identity proof (Aadhaar/PAN), a signed Form TM-48 authorisation, and the logo or wordmark you wish to register. For companies, LLPs, or partnerships, additional documents such as the certificate of incorporation or partnership deed are required.

If you have already completed private limited company registration or hold a valid GST registration, these documents can strengthen your application and confirm your business's commercial activity.

The application itself can be filed within 1-2 working days once your documents are ready. After filing, the Registry examines the application, and if there is no objection, it is published in the Trademark Journal for four months to allow third-party opposition.

If nobody opposes the mark, the registration certificate is usually issued within 8 to 18 months from the filing date. You can follow the complete step-by-step trademark filing process to understand each stage in detail.

Yes. Organising trade shows, exhibitions, and fashion shows for commercial or advertising purposes, along with product demonstrations and promotional events, are included within Class 35 since they exist to promote goods, services, or a business.

However, if your event management business also covers general event planning unrelated to commercial promotion (such as weddings), that activity may need to be classified separately under Class 41.

If the Trademark Registry raises an objection — commonly due to similarity with an existing mark or vague service description — you must respond within the stipulated time with supporting evidence and legal arguments. If unresolved, the matter may proceed to a hearing.

Our trademark objection reply service and trademark hearing assistance help applicants respond correctly and improve their chances of successful registration.

A registered trademark under Class 35 is valid for 10 years from the date of registration. It can be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods, as long as the renewal application is filed before expiry.

Missing the renewal deadline can lead to additional restoration fees or, eventually, removal of the mark from the register. You can complete your trademark renewal online well before the due date to avoid any lapse in protection.

Yes, if your business offers both goods and services, or services that span more than one Nice Classification category, you can file separate applications in each relevant class, such as Class 35 for advertising and business services alongside Class 42 for IT/software or Class 41 for training.

Businesses that also deal in original creative or technical work may additionally consider copyright registration, design registration, or patent registration depending on what needs protection. Our team can review our complete range of business compliance services to help you plan a full IP protection strategy.