Trademark Class 35: Advertising, Business & Retail Services
Class 35 is the most misunderstood — and most necessary — service class in India. It covers advertising, business management, business administration, office functions, and crucially the bringing together of goods for retail and e-commerce so customers can buy them. Every marketplace, D2C store and reseller needs Class 35 in addition to the class of the goods it sells.
What Class 35 covers
India follows the NICE Classification (11th edition) — 45 classes in total, 34 for goods and 11 for services. Class 35 sits in the services group. Your trademark is only protected for the goods or services listed in the class you file, which is why picking Class 35 correctly matters more than the logo itself.
- Advertising, marketing and promotion services
- Retail and wholesale store services
- Online marketplace and e-commerce services
- Business management and administration
- Import-export agency and distributorship
- HR, recruitment, accounting and office functions
What Class 35 does NOT cover
| Frequently confused item | Correct class |
|---|---|
| The actual manufactured goods sold | Class of the goods (e.g. 25) |
| Financial and insurance services | Class 36 |
| Software development / SaaS | Class 42 |
| Training and coaching | Class 41 |
Examples of goods/services in Class 35
Who files in Class 35
- E-commerce and D2C brands
- Marketing agencies
- Retail chains
- Consulting firms
- Import-export houses
Class 35 government fees
| Applicant type | e-Filing fee | Physical filing | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual / Sole Proprietor | ₹4,500 per class | ₹5,000 per class | e-filing is cheaper — always file online |
| Startup (DPIIT recognised) | ₹4,500 per class | ₹5,000 per class | DPIIT certificate must be attached |
| MSME (Udyam registered) | ₹4,500 per class | ₹5,000 per class | Udyam certificate must be attached |
| Company / LLP / Partnership (non-MSME) | ₹9,000 per class | ₹10,000 per class | Register under Udyam first and save 50% |
Taxpex professional fee for a Class 35 filing starts at ₹1,999 and includes a clearance search, TM-48 drafting, filing and objection tracking until registration.
Class 35 filing timeline
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Search & class confirmation | Same day | We run a Class 35 search on the IP India database |
| Filing (TM-A) | 24-48 hours | Application number issued — ™ can be used immediately |
| Examination report | 3-8 months | Registry raises objections under Section 9/11 if any |
| Objection reply / hearing | 1-4 months | We draft and file the reply, appear at hearings |
| Journal publication | 2-4 months | 4-month opposition window opens |
| Registration certificate | 8-18 months total | ® symbol can be used, valid 10 years |
Protect your brand in Class 35
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Class 35 (Advertising, Business & Retail Services) — questions answered
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Content refreshed against the latest CBIC / CBDT / MCA notifications and portal changes.
Chartered Accountant · ICAI Member · 12+ years in Indian tax & compliance
- 15 September 2026Reviewed rates, forms and portal workflow for Trademark Class 35. Verified against latest CBIC/CBDT notifications.
- 10 January 2026Refreshed FAQ set, added new penalty examples and jurisdiction notes.
- 05 October 2025Structural rewrite for EEAT — added expert commentary, playbooks and process timeline.