Why it matters
Using a name is not the same as owning it.
You registered the LLC. You bought the domain. You got the handle. None of those give you the name.
An LLC lets you do business under a name in one state. A domain and a handle are rentals from a company that can take them back. The thing that gives you the right to stop someone else building on your name is a federal trademark registration.
What a trademark actually is
Not your business name on a certificate. It is the link between a name and the specific goods or services you sell. Two businesses can own the same word if they sell different things, which is why a name being "taken" somewhere is not the end of the story, and why a name that looks free on Google can already be closed to you.
The cost of finding out late
The search is cheap. Finding out later is not.
01
Someone else files first.
The years you spent building the name become their leverage over you.
02
The letter arrives late.
A cease and desist after the packaging is printed and the signage is up.
03
Your filing is refused.
Over a mark you never saw. The government filing fees do not come back.
04
You rebrand.
New logo, new domain, new handles. Every customer who knew you has to learn you again.
05
A deal stalls.
An investor or an Amazon Brand Registry listing waits while you prove the name is yours.
Who it is for
Built for founders who are about to be attached to a name.
Most of the people I work with built something before anyone told them they were allowed to: a coaching practice, a product line, a service business, a following. The name came from them, and it is usually the last thing they think to protect.
Seed is for you if
You have an LLC, a domain and a handle, and you assumed that covered the name.
You are a coach, consultant or creator, or you sell products online, and the name is how people find you.
You are about to spend on a logo, packaging, signage or a website and want to know the name is safe first.
You are choosing between two or three names and want a real answer, not a Google search.
You want a lawyer to check and tell you the truth, without a course, a portal or a paralegal in between.
Probably not for you if
You already hold a federal registration for this exact name and what you sell.
Someone has already sent you a cease-and-desist, or your application was refused. That needs a paid consultation, not a search.
What the $650 gets you
Everything you need to decide.
A clearance search across the federal register, all fifty state registers, and common-law use
A written opinion letter in plain English: where your name stands, what the real risks are, and whether it is worth filing
Two calls with me. Not a portal, not a paralegal, not a bot
An answer before you spend another dollar on a logo, packaging or signage
How it works
Five steps, start to finish.
Step 01
Pay and book.
$650, then pick a time for your 20-minute intro call.
Step 02
Your intro call.
Twenty minutes on your name, what you sell, and what you are actually trying to protect.
Step 03
Your questionnaire.
A short intake form so the details are right before the search starts.
Step 04
Your search.
Within five business days of your completed questionnaire, the search and written opinion are done.
Step 05
Your results call.
A second 20-minute call to walk through what I found and what I would do next.
Start to finish, in less than two weeks.
The credit
If you file, the $650 comes back to you.
Retain Citrus Legal for a Grove, Harvest or Orchard package within 14 days of the date on your clearance opinion letter, and the full $650 comes off the package price.
Seed does not credit toward Sprout, which covers the search and the application only.
"The registration process was overwhelming to do on my own. Gabrielle answered my questions and made the whole thing effortless. I made a good call hiring an attorney."
Danielle Ayodele · Let's Lead Consulting and Coaching
Actual client. Results vary, and a prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
Who runs it
One attorney, start to finish.
Never a paralegal, never a bot. I am Gabrielle Maria Crawford, Esq., founder of Citrus Legal. I run your search myself, write the opinion myself, and take both calls myself.
Admitted
The Florida Bar
Juris Doctor
University of Miami School of Law
Practice
Trademarks nationwide under federal law; business contracts in Florida
Based in
Saint Petersburg, Florida
What you get from me is a straight answer, even when it is not the one you were hoping for. If the name is a problem, the opinion letter says so, tells you how close the conflict really is, and what I would do next. Flat fee, in writing, no course to buy and no upsell on the call.
Before you book
The questions I get most.
Isn't my LLC enough?
No. An LLC lets you do business under a name in one state. It gives you no right to stop anyone else from using it.
Can't I just Google it?
Google shows you what is visible today. It does not show you pending applications, dead marks that still block, state registrations, or a name close enough to yours to get your application refused.
What if the search says the name is taken?
Then you found out for $650 instead of after launch. The opinion letter tells you how close the conflict really is and whether there is a way through it.
Does this include filing?
No. This is the search and the opinion. If you go on to file, the $650 credits toward Grove, Harvest or Orchard.
How long does the whole trademark take?
Registration at the USPTO usually runs a year or more. The search and opinion take less than two weeks, and that is the part that decides whether the year is worth starting.
Is the free 15-minute call legal advice?
No. The free call is for finding out whether Seed is the right first step and how we would work together. If you want advice on your specific situation before committing, book a paid Legal Consultation instead.
Do you work with businesses outside Florida?
Yes. Federal trademarks are national, and I handle trademark work for founders anywhere in the United States. Business and contract work stays Florida-only.
What do you actually search?
The federal register, all fifty state registers, and common-law use: names that were never registered but are in use, which can still block you. Then I read the results the way an examining attorney would, including names that look or sound like yours, not just exact matches.
How do I pay, and what if I need to reschedule?
You pay the $650 by card when you book the intro call on Calendly. Rescheduling is fine with at least 24 hours’ notice. The fee is nonrefundable and earned upon receipt.
Free guide · Carefully crafted by an attorney
Not ready to file yet?
Seven things every business owner should do to protect their brand. Four pages, plain English, no jargon. The last page is a worksheet you can fill in.
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Ready when you are
Find out before you are attached to it.
Twenty minutes, a full clearance search, and a written answer in less than two weeks.
Attorney advertising. Educational material only. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees are nonrefundable and earned upon receipt. © 2026 Citrus Legal, PLLC, Saint Petersburg, Florida. Gabrielle Maria Crawford, Esq. is admitted in Florida; trademark services are provided nationwide under federal law.