A China trademark quote can look cheap, reasonable or expensive without telling you what is included. The official fee is fixed. The service fee is not. To compare quotes, separate the government fee, the search, the class strategy, the filing work and what happens after a correction notice.
The official fee is the easy part
The CNIPA electronic filing fee is 270 RMB per class for up to ten goods or services. That is about US$39 at recent exchange rates. Each item above ten carries an additional official fee. The fee is the same for a foreign applicant and a Chinese applicant. No agency can change it.
If a quote does not show the official fee separately, ask for it. A bundled price can still be fair, but you cannot compare it with another quote until you know how much of the price is government fee and how much is service.
What the service fee should cover
A useful service quote covers more than typing a form. It should include a search of the mark, a review of the relevant classes, a goods or services list, preparation of the application in Chinese, coordination with a licensed Chinese agency, filing, and handling of routine correction notices.
Ask what happens after filing. Does the provider send the application number? Do they monitor the status? Do they tell you when the mark is published? Do they explain a correction notice? Do they quote a refusal or opposition separately? The answers matter more than a small difference in the headline price.
| Quote line | What it should say | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Official fee | 270 RMB per class, plus extra item fees above ten | Separates government cost from service |
| Search | One mark, agreed classes, written result | Reveals conflicts before filing |
| Class and goods list | Number of classes and items included | Prevents surprise add-ons |
| Filing | Preparation, translation, agency coordination | Shows who does the work |
| Correction notice | Included or quoted separately | Corrections are common and time-sensitive |
| Refusal or opposition | Quoted separately | These are separate proceedings, not routine filing work |
Why quotes differ so much
Three quotes can differ because they cover different scopes. One may include one class; another may include three. One may include a search; another may charge for it separately. One may include a Chinese name review; another may not. One may use a licensed agency; another may act as a reseller and add a margin.
The applicant type also matters. A foreign company needs a licensed Chinese agency. The documents, the power of attorney and the communication may take more time than a simple domestic filing. A quote that ignores the foreign applicant requirement is not comparable.
The goods list matters too. A ten-item list in one class is different from a thirty-item list across three classes. Extra items and extra classes create extra official fees and extra drafting work. A low headline price can become expensive when the scope is added back.
The real cost of a cheap filing
A cheap filing can be a false economy when the search is shallow, the class is wrong or the goods list is copied from another applicant. The official fee is small compared with the cost of a failed launch. A wrong class can leave the product unprotected. A narrow goods list can miss the service you actually sell. A missed correction notice can cause the application to lapse.
This does not mean the most expensive quote is the best. It means the quote should be judged by scope and execution. Ask who reviews the search, who prepares the Chinese goods list and who handles the agency relationship. A low price with no named process is not a saving. It is an unknown risk.
How to compare three quotes
- Normalize the scope: same mark, same classes, same goods list.
- Separate the official fee from the service fee.
- Check whether the search and the written result are included.
- Ask who the licensed Chinese agency is and who handles corrections.
- Ask for the refusal, opposition, renewal and assignment prices in writing.
- Check whether the quote assumes a clean application or prices the realistic case.
A good quote is not the shortest email. It is the one that lets you see the scope, the exclusions and the next step. If a provider cannot explain what happens after filing, the price is not the main issue.
Budget beyond the filing
Plan for renewal at the ten-year mark. Plan for a search if you add a new class or a Chinese name. Plan for a refusal review if the examiner objects. Plan for monitoring if the brand is active in marketplaces. These are separate costs, and they should be visible before you choose a plan.
The Registered or Refunded plan is not a discount on the official fee. It is a risk product with conditions. Read the exclusions before comparing it with a standard filing. A refund plan can be useful for the right word mark, but it does not cover every refusal, every class or every business model.
What a written quote should look like
A useful quote is short enough to read and specific enough to compare. It should name the mark, the applicant, the classes and the number of goods or services. It should show the official fee, the service fee and the total. It should state what happens if the examiner issues a correction notice and what is excluded.
Ask for the quote in writing, even if you discuss it by phone. A written quote creates a record of the scope. If the provider later adds a class, a translation fee or a correction fee, you can see whether the charge was disclosed.
Red flags in a low quote
A quote that is much lower than the market may be missing the search, the goods list work, the agency coordination or the official fee. It may also assume a domestic applicant when you are a foreign company. Ask who files the application and which licensed agency is used.
Another red flag is a promise of registration. No provider can guarantee the examiner’s decision. A quote that promises a result is not a quote. It is a sales claim.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 270 RMB fee per class or per application?
It is per class. One application can cover one class in China. If you file three classes, you pay three official fees.
Are extra goods expensive?
Each item above ten carries an additional official fee. The exact amount should be shown in the quote. A long goods list can also create examination risk if it includes items you do not actually sell.
Can I pay the official fee directly?
A foreign applicant files through a licensed Chinese agency. The agency handles the official payment as part of the filing. Ask for the official fee to be shown separately on the invoice.
Read the scope, not just the total
A China trademark quote is a scope document. It should tell you what is searched, what is filed, who files it and what happens if the application hits a correction or a refusal. Once those lines are clear, the total becomes comparable.
For the current per-class pricing, see the pricing page. For a quote based on your mark and goods list, send us the name and the product category. If you already have quotes, the cost guide explains the official fee and the service layers.
