What trademark class do I actually file under for my D2C brand, just one, or more?
The short answer
Start with your core product class, Class 3 for cosmetics/skincare, Class 25 for apparel, Class 29/30 for food, Class 9 for electronics, and strongly consider adding Class 35 (retail/e-commerce/advertising services) since that's what actually covers 'selling stuff online under this brand.' Each class is a separate filing fee, so most bootstrapped D2C brands file 1-2 classes at launch and add more once they diversify into adjacent categories. Filing in the wrong class doesn't protect you in the category that actually matters, so this is worth 10 minutes with a trademark agent rather than guessing.
A quick summary to orient you. The real value is below: the resources worth your time, from people who've actually done it, not us.
Here are the resources
Hand-picked from around the web, each with a note on why it earns your time. India-specific ones carry a badge.
3 resources3 India-specific2 link-checked
Read
📄 Article
✓ Link checkedIndiaFreeBeginner
Why we picked it
The clearest plain-language breakdown of the 45-class system we found, with D2C-relevant examples (Class 3 cosmetics, Class 25 apparel, Class 35 retail) instead of a dry legal list.
Why we picked it
The most complete single reference on fees, timeline and the ™ vs ® distinction, good as the one page to bookmark and return to at each stage of the process.
Why we picked it
A screen-by-screen walkthrough of the actual e-filing form on ipindiaonline.gov.in, useful right before you sit down to file it yourself.
