aangelica you've been extremely helpful/insightful thank you!

i am in the midst of writing my business plan now and thinking bigger picture for the future (5-10years). in the short term i'd like to cover sf and santa clara counties (doing business in those counties).

i plan to use the brand/trademark on an organizer that i am now developing in addition to the consulting services i provide...will not having a trademark registered open me up to someone stealing my name...say if i sold this product through retail chains and online? (hence, why i am looking into getting a trademark).

last question, if my home business is in palo alto and i sell a product nationwide...how does that work? with regards to a trademark that is not registered.

eventually, i would like to build this brand.