If you have a trademark registered for your business name, you do not need to file multiple trademark registrations just because you operate your business through both an LLC and a corporation.
This is a common question we hear from growing business owners who may have started as an LLC and later formed a corporation — or who operate multiple entities under the same brand.
The good news? Trademark law is focused on how the mark is used in commerce, not necessarily the number of legal entities using it.
A federal trademark registration protects your business name (or logo, or slogan) for the specific goods or services listed in your application — regardless of whether those goods or services are being offered by an LLC, a corporation, or even an individual owner.
As long as the use of the mark is controlled by the trademark owner, and the goods or services remain consistent with what was registered, the law doesn’t require multiple filings for every entity involved.
In some cases, it may be smart to have a simple licensing agreement in place between your LLC and corporation — especially if one entity legally owns the trademark but another is using it in commerce. This isn’t about filing a new registration — it’s about protecting your rights and maintaining clear records of who owns what.
For most small businesses with common ownership across entities, this is a practical formality, not a legal requirement.
One name. One brand. One trademark registration.
Whether you operate your business through an LLC, a corporation, or both — you do not need multiple trademark registrations for the same name covering the same goods and services.
What you do need is clear ownership, consistent use, and good recordkeeping.
As always, if you’re unsure who should own your trademarks — the LLC, the corporation, or you personally — that’s a great question to discuss with your IP attorney.