Average UK business spends £8,500 on complete name protection in 2026, up from £4,200 in 2024. Trademark fees, domain costs, and legal consultations all increased. Here's the actual budget breakdown founders need.
UK Trademark Registration: £170-400
£170 base fee for one class. Each additional class adds £50. Most businesses need 2-3 classes = £270-320.
Add Legal Review: £800-2,500
Trademark solicitor reviews application, checks conflicts, drafts specifications. DIY applications have 40% rejection rate vs 12% with solicitor.
Premium Domain Costs: £2,000-50,000
New .uk registration: £10-20/year. Premium .co.uk from resellers: £2,000-50,000. Short, memorable domains command premium prices.
The Domain Alternative
Can't afford premium .co.uk? Register exact-match .uk instead. 2026 SEO treats .uk equally to .co.uk for UK searches.
Companies House Registration: £50
Same-day service £50. Standard service £12. One cost that didn't increase in 2026.
Brand Development: £3,000-15,000
Logo design, brand guidelines, website. Freelancer: £3,000. Agency: £15,000+. DIY: £500 but looks DIY.
Naming Consultant: £1,500-5,000
Professional naming agency conducts trademark clearance, linguistic testing, domain strategy. Prevents costly rebrands later.
The Hidden Costs
Social media handle acquisition: £200-2,000. Virtual trademark classes: £400. International trademark expansion: £5,000-25,000.
Warning: Budget 20% contingency for unexpected conflicts. Opposition proceedings cost £3,000-15,000 if contested.