I have a small office cleaning business, should I file for a trademark for the business name?

You should focus on making money and let lawyers worry about this later

if you dont want others taking it and want to be known better

No need unless you plan to get gigantic and go nation wide. If you want to register your name, do it at the county government office. That way you have the rights to that name in your county. You can register in multiple counties if you want. Trademarking is expensive. I looked into it years ago and operated a small business under a trademarked name for eleven years with no hassle. (It wasn't a nationally known name.)

In my state, I started a commercial cleaning business. I searched first in the county I live. As a sole proprietor, I registered my name. Most county and state recorders have a database where u can search business names. If the name doesn't exist, you can grab it. If you want to file the name with the state. You will need to incorporate which is another form. You will do the initial biz name search either on the Internet or at the recorders office. If your desire name is free you can register it. The recorders office will also do a search to make sure the name is unused. Again, I am a sole proprietor so I am John Smith dba (doing business as) XYZ Commercial Services. That name is now protected from anyone else using it. Additionally, you can reserve the name for 90 days by paying a $20 fee. If in 90 days, you want to incorporate the name it is protected. You really need to start by figuring out the sole proprietorship vs. incorporating. I suggested reading entrepreneurs magazines book titled: start your own cleaning service. It goes into alot of detail about pros/cons of naming your company as well as tax advantages for both. Your states website has alot of information too. Good luck.

Technically, you can't register your business name as a trademark. But, if you're using your business name as a trademark as well, then you may be able to register it.