Women's Network April 2018 | Page 30

AUTHOR Dyan Burgess THE STORY CURATOR EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE dyanburgess.com A trademark will protect your business THE CORRECT STEPS FOR from competitors who may damage your BUSINESS START-UP AND PROTECTION image THE CORRECT STEPS FOR BUSINESS START-UP AND PROTECTION 1. Creation of a business idea 2. Choice of a business name 3. Check if the business name is available for trademarking within the countries that the business operates, and the industry the business will operate in. A trademark expert will assist with this if you are unsure on how to conduct the research. 4. Purchase a domain name. 5. Registration of business name via self-registration or an accountant. 6. Creation of website. 7. Begin marketing and selling. 30 Women’s Network Magazine In this timeline of events, the importance of a trademark is often overlooked. Neglecting to register a trademark early on can lead to the business owner having to defend the right to keep their brand/business name and/or change their brand as they may not want to defend the ‘cease and desist’ order. A trademark will protect your business from competitors who may damage your image and reputation through imitation. It supports effective marketing, as well as creating a strong brand identity. Holding a trademark allows for it to be sold or licensed, thus turning it into a form of revenue. It also provides total control over your business brand, which is your most important asset. Without a trademark, it is possible for another organisation to register a trademark under your existing trade name. This may prevent you from using that name; the cost and effort of rebranding is far greater than simply registering your own trademark in the early stages of business. As the only legal safeguard, a trademark ensures safety from competition and copycat businesses. AUTHOR Binh Rey, Managing Director SERIOUSLY TRADEMARKS CONTACT 0402 731 288 NATIONAL 1300 118 123 WEBSITE seriouslytrademarks.com.au