What Class 37 Covers — Full Scope
- Building construction: General contractors, building construction companies, civil engineering firms
- Interior design and renovation: Interior design services, home renovation, office fit-outs, modular kitchen installation
- Repair and maintenance: Electrical repairs, plumbing, HVAC maintenance, appliance repair, computer repair
- Installation services: Air conditioning installation, solar panel installation, elevator installation, CCTV installation
- Cleaning and maintenance services: Commercial cleaning, housekeeping, facility management, pest control
- Painting and decorating: Painting services, wall treatment, waterproofing
- Mining and drilling services
- Vehicle repair and servicing: Auto service centres, two-wheeler workshops, car detailing
- Fireproofing and restoration services
Class 37 vs Class 36 — Real Estate and Construction
This is the most important class distinction for the real estate and construction sector:
| Activity | Correct Class | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Building construction services | Class 37 | The physical act of building |
| Real estate development and sales | Class 36 | Property as a service — selling, leasing, investing |
| Interior design services | Class 37 | Renovation and fit-out work |
| Real estate brokerage | Class 36 | Financial/property transaction service |
| Property management | Class 36 | Managing property as a service |
| Home cleaning / housekeeping | Class 37 | Maintenance and cleaning services |
| Solar panel installation | Class 37 | Installation service |
| Pest control services | Class 37 | Maintenance/cleaning service |
💡 Real Estate Developer — File Both
A developer who both builds (Class 37) and sells/leases (Class 36) property under the same brand should file in both classes. Many Indian real estate brands file Class 36 only and miss protection for their construction service brand.Interior Design Brands — A Fast-Growing Trademark Class
India's interior design market is growing at 18% annually, driven by urbanisation, rising income, and the modular furniture revolution. Interior design brand names face specific risks:
- Local interior designers copying the name of established firms when entering the same city
- Modular kitchen and furniture brands with similar names confusing homeowners
- Online home décor aggregators (Urban Company, NoBroker Home) creating brand confusion for service providers
1
File Class 37 for interior design and renovation services — your core service class.
2
Add Class 42 if you provide 3D design software or a digital design platform for clients.
3
Add Class 20 if you also sell furniture or home décor products under your brand name.
4
Add Class 35 if you operate an online marketplace for interior design services or products.
Home Services and Facility Management Brands
India's organised home services sector (Urban Company, Housejoy, NoBroker Handyman style platforms) is growing rapidly. Brand names in this space face particular copying risks because the service is location-dependent and customers often rely on name recognition alone:
| Service Type | Primary Class | Additional Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Home cleaning and housekeeping | Class 37 | Class 35 (if platform/marketplace), Class 42 (booking app) |
| Appliance repair (AC, fridge, TV) | Class 37 | Class 42 (service booking app) |
| Pest control | Class 37 | Class 1 (if you also sell pest control chemicals) |
| Electrical and plumbing services | Class 37 | Class 42 (booking platform) |
| Car washing and detailing | Class 37 | Class 39 (vehicle care service) |
| Solar installation | Class 37 | Class 9 (solar equipment), Class 42 (monitoring platform) |
Frequently Asked Questions
If operating under a distinctive brand name (not just your personal name), yes — especially if you plan to expand with multiple technicians or a franchise model. Individual service providers file at ₹4,500 per class in personal name.
Class 37 for installation and maintenance services. Class 9 for solar panels and energy equipment as products. Class 42 for solar monitoring and energy management software platforms. Many solar companies file across all three.
Yes — if the tagline is distinctive and associated with your brand rather than descriptive of construction in general. 'Building Tomorrow, Today' could be registrable if distinctive. Generic construction phrases generally face Section 9 objections.
Repair and maintenance of vehicles (workshop, service centre) is Class 37. Transport of vehicles or transport services using vehicles is Class 39. A car service workshop files in Class 37; a car rental company files in Class 39.
Both — Class 37 for the physical maintenance and cleaning services, Class 35 for the business management and administrative components of integrated facility management. Large facility management companies like Jones Lang LaSalle or CBRE file in multiple classes.
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