Trademarking a new business name and logo.

John's answer is a good one.

I would add, however, that when you apply to federally register a trademark you must also declare that to the best of your knowledge no one else has the right to use the mark or one that is confusingly similar. While there is no statutory duty to conduct a search, many courts (and the Trademark Office) look poorly on trademark applicants who do not conduct a thorough search for similar marks before filing their application. Professional search firms can perform a good search for about $500. It would take a trademark attorney about two - three hours to assess the risk you would take by using your mark in light of the existing marks found by the search. So for $1,000 - $1,500 you could obtain an opinion on whether you can use lawfully use your mark -- an inexpensive investment that could save you much heartache and expenses latter on if you become engaged in a trademark squabble.