What does it cost to add extra classes to your trademark?
You cannot simply "supplement" an existing trademark registration with a new class. If you want your trademark to also apply to products or services that were not included in your original application, you must file a new application, with the official fees of the BOIP or EUIPO that apply, plus any service fee for guided filing. The costs are therefore those of a complete new registration for the class you are missing, not those of a minor amendment.
What exactly determines those costs is explained below: the number of classes you add, the office where you file, and whether the new application carries its own conflict search and opposition period.
Why expansion is not an amendment
The idea that you can "add to a trademark later" is one of the most persistent misconceptions in trademark law. A trademark registration protects precisely the classes specified in the application, and that remains so for the entire duration. If your installation business was ever registered for class 37 (installation services) and you now want to add software too (class 9) because you are launching your own app, that counts as new protection. You must file a new application for that, with its own publication and its own opposition period in which third parties can respond.
That is also why the choice of classes deserves so much attention in the first application: too narrow a choice will cost you a complete second procedure later. If you are uncertain about the right classes at the start, you can have that investigated beforehand via review the approach per situation.
Where the amount comes from
The costs of a new application consist of two separate layers. The first layer is the official fees of the BOIP or EUIPO itself: a base amount that typically covers one class, with a surcharge for each extra class you include in the same application. These fees are public and are transparently listed on the website of the relevant office; you pay them directly to the BOIP or EUIPO, not to an intermediary.
The second layer is the guidance: the conflict search against existing registers, the selection of the correct Nice classes for your new product or service, and the preparation of the application down to the last detail. At marcai.eu, that is a service fee per registration, separately listed alongside the official fees. A current overview of those amounts can be found on the pricing page.
What determines your final costs
The total amount of an expansion depends on a few concrete choices. First, the number of classes: if you add one extra class or several at once, the official fee increases per class. The office also plays a role — a Benelux application at the BOIP and a Union trademark at the EUIPO each have their own fee structure, and those structures are not identical to each other.
The outcome of the conflict search also matters, albeit indirectly: if it turns out that the desired class is already crowded with similar trademarks, that may be reason to refine your description before you file, which can prevent later problems — and the costs of an opposition proceeding. That search is always an indication, never a guarantee that your application will proceed without objection.
Finally, it matters whether you file the expansion separately or combine it with another action, such as a renewal. A combined approach will not save you official fees — those continue to apply per class and per application — but it can make a difference in the guidance around it.
When expansion makes sense and when it does not
Not every new activity requires a new class. If you already offer services in class 35 (business services) and launch an online shop for the same services, this often falls under your existing description. However, if you expand into a fundamentally different type of product or service, a separate assessment is needed. There is no off-the-shelf answer to this decision without reviewing your specific situation; if in doubt, consult a trade mark representative, especially if the expansion coincides with an ongoing opposition or earlier refusal.
Would you first like to know whether your current classes already cover your plans, or whether expansion is necessary? Take the free trade mark check in a few questions or review the frequently asked questions about classes and the associated costs. This way you'll know where you stand within half an hour, without having to dive into it yourself.