Check expertise against the actual assignment
Search and class selection should precede major spending on a brand.
Ask about experience with your entity, sector and the intended deliverable. If a report, certification or representation requires a particular qualification or registration, verify it through the relevant professional or regulator source. Do not rely on an unverified badge or a promise of a favourable outcome.
Questions to ask on the first call
What similar marks and goods or services affect the filing strategy?
Separate search, filing, objection response, opposition and registration-stage work.
Checklist
- Who prepares the work, who reviews it and who communicates with me?
- What evidence is missing and what assumptions are being made?
- What is included, what is excluded and how is extra work authorised?
- What will I receive and who retains control of the records?
Agree how the work will be delivered across MMR
For Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Panvel businesses, location matters when original documents, a premises visit or physical verification are needed. Ask which steps can be remote and whether travel or site work is included. Serving an area is not proof that a provider has an office there.
Prepare the mark, applicant identity, goods or services description and any claimed-use evidence.
Warning signs in a proposal
A filed application or a clean preliminary search does not guarantee registration or exclusive rights.
Be cautious about guaranteed approvals, undisclosed fees, pressure to share one-time codes and proposals that omit client responsibilities. Ask for realistic dependencies and a defined complaint or escalation channel.
Protect continuity if you change providers
Keep application records, monitoring instructions and evidence supporting use claims.
Require an accessible export or copy of your records and final work. Agree how access is revoked and pending matters are transferred. A service relationship should not leave your business unable to obtain its own filing history or accounts.
How to use this resource


