Working with a quality patent attorney or professional patent practitioner will cost the typical independent inventor anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500, though some inventors file their own patent applications to save money while others pay upwards of $10-15,000 for high priced marquee legal counsel in hopes of streamlining the process.

The costs are based upon two components: patent office costs (filing fees and maintenance costs associated with keeping a patent active for its full term) and fees paid to the patent professional for preparing, filing and prosecuting (following) the application with the PTO, representing your interests.

For a more detailed breakdown, see are Articles about the time and cost of filing a patent application. Back to FAQ