How to get Brand Registry before talking to International Supplier? Start Professional Amazon Seller Account first and sign up brand or can I sign up brand registry without Professional Seller Account first?

Basically I am mostly ready to ask a supplier in China to make some samples. There will be some trademarks on the item. I am concerned that if I don’t have the brand registry active on Amazon just yet that a Chinese supplier might try and beat me to it on Amazon.

I certainly intend to sign up for a Seller Central Account at least by on the first of next month, May. The issue here is that Amazon will charge for the Professional Seller Central Account and I won’t immediately use it while I continue to get things up and running. I have also been waiting on a utility bill to hand over to Amazon too as well as perhaps a copy of a business license to help them verify the seller account or whatever.

It seems like someone in this group may have an idea for me. Maybe signing up for an individual account and then registering the brand and then soon upgrading to a Professional account, is that easy to do, I would think that would serve more as a red flag? Thanks.