How Much Does a Patent Cost: An In-Depth Guide to Patent Pricing in 2026
How much does a patent cost in 2025? See USPTO fees, attorney costs, international filing expenses, and ways to save. Book a free IP strategy call today.
[PRICING]IP services pricing
Patent attorney fees, flat and published
Hourly billing, slow communication and surprise invoices make traditional law firms hard to budget for. Our fees are flat, published here, and quoted before any work begins.
[01]Flat fees
Every service, one flat fee.
Start with the search to know it is patentable before you file. If it is, the search fee is credited toward your application.
FilingWhenWhat’s includedGuaranteeFlat fee
Patentability searchPatentable, or your money backStart hereRefunded if not patentable. Credited toward your application if it is.Coveredby The RLG Guarantee$999
Provisional patentLock in your filing dateMonth 0Patent pending from the day it is filed. Search fee credited.Coveredby The RLG Guarantee$2.5k–3.5k
TrademarkApproved, or your money backBefore launchConflict search, every office action and the USPTO fee for one class included.Coveredby The RLG Guarantee$2,000
Utility patentProtect how it worksMonth 12Drawings and USPTO filing fees included. Software $11,000.Not covered by The RLG Guarantee$7k–12k
PCT applicationProtect it abroadMonth 12One international application that holds your date in over 150 countries.Not covered by The RLG Guarantee$12,000
Rush filings add 50 percent to the flat fee. *Refunds subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.
[02]Monthly IP plans
One monthly price, if you prefer.
For startups that search and file every year.
Prefer one monthly price? Our IP plans for startups bundle patentability searches, trademark filings and weekly trademark monitoring, from $400 a month for Launch to $1,200 for Growth, 20% below the same work at our flat fees. Larger portfolios get an Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
[03]Cost by stage
How much does a patent attorney cost?
At this firm, each stage of a patent has its own flat fee, so you pay for the step you are on and know the next price before you take it.
Most inventors start with a $999 patentability search, file a provisional application for $2,500 to $3,500 to lock in their date, then file the utility application within 12 months for $7,000 to $12,000, set by the invention (software $11,000).
| Stage | When | Flat fee |
|---|---|---|
| Patentability search | Before you file | $999 |
| Provisional patent | Month 0 | $2,500 to $3,500 |
| Utility patent | By month 12 | $7,000 to $12,000 |
| Office action response | During examination | $2,500 to $3,500 per response |
| PCT application | By month 12, to file abroad | $12,000 |
| Design patent | Any time, best before launch | $3,200 |
| Trademark | Before launch | $2,000 |
Rush filings add 50 percent to the flat fee. Office action responses on design patents and trademarks are included in those flat fees.
Why does a software patent cost more than a mechanical one?
The fee follows the work. Software and electrical inventions usually need more claims, more figures and more care to show a technical improvement the USPTO will accept, so the utility fee sits at the top of the range. Simpler mechanical inventions sit lower.
[04]Government fees
USPTO fees vs attorney fees.
Two kinds of fees go into a patent. The firm's flat fee covers the legal work, and some flat fees also cover the USPTO's filing fees.
- Attorney fees pay for the search, the drafting, the drawings and the strategy. At this firm they are flat, never hourly.
- USPTO fees are government fees set by the patent office. The utility patent flat fee includes the USPTO filing fees, and the trademark flat fee includes the USPTO fee for one class.
- Later government fees, such as the issue fee when a patent is allowed and the maintenance fees that keep it in force, are set by the USPTO and depend on your entity size (large, small or micro entity).
For the full picture of what a patent costs over its life, read how much a patent costs, and for trademarks, trademark filing costs.
[05]Billing models
Flat fee vs hourly vs capped fees.
Patent firms bill in one of three ways. The difference is who carries the risk of the work taking longer.
| Flat fee | Hourly | Capped | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price known | Before work begins | When the invoices arrive | Up to the cap |
| Calls and emails | Included | Billed in increments | Count toward the cap |
| If the work takes longer | The firm absorbs it | You pay for the time | You pay up to the cap |
Every engagement here is a flat fee. Read more in flat fee vs hourly attorney or see why the firm works this way. Prefer to pay over time? See Protect Now, Pay Later.
[06]Client reviews
Clients on the flat fee.
4.7 across 614 public reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo.
#1Top reviewed IP law firm*
Read client reviews“The Rapacke Group stands by their fees with no surprises.”
Lowell CrawfordClient review “It gave us peace of mind knowing the total cost for this service was included in their flat-fee proposal.”
Nick P.Provisional patent · Client review “Extremely impressed with their fixed fee and timely approach.”
Forrest A.Trademark · Google
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Quotes are excerpts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. *#1 top reviewed means the most public client reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo of any US patent or trademark firm.
How much does a patent attorney cost?
It depends on the stage and the invention. Here a patentability search is $999, a provisional application $2,500 to $3,500 and a utility application $7,000 to $12,000, each quoted as a flat fee before any work begins.
Is a patent attorney worth it?
For most inventions, yes. The claims decide what a patent actually protects, and a registered patent attorney writes them to cover your invention and the ways a competitor might copy it. A flat fee also means the cost is known before you commit.
Does a poor man's patent work?
No. Mailing yourself a description of your invention gives no patent rights in the US, which awards patents to the first inventor to file. A provisional application is the low-cost way to secure a real filing date.
Are USPTO fees included?
The utility patent flat fee includes the USPTO filing fees, and the trademark flat fee includes the USPTO fee for one class. Later government fees, such as the issue fee and maintenance fees, are set by the USPTO.
Do you charge for calls or emails?
No. Calls and emails about your matter are part of the flat fee.
Can I pay over time?
Mention a payment plan when you speak with us. Payment plans are offered through Affirm and are subject to approval, and Affirm sets the terms of your plan. The Protect Now, Pay Later page has the details.
[08]Learning Center
Read more about patent costs.
How Much Does a Software Patent Cost in 2023?
Your SaaS has integrated unique key features, and you want to protect them from competitors by utilizing a software patent. This sounds like a good idea in theory, but…
New USPTO Fee Changes Just Raised Your Trademark Filing Cost—Here’s What to Expect
Intellectual property‐intensive industries (including trademarks, patents, and copyrights) accounted for approximately $5-7 trillion of U.S. GDP in 2019, with…
Get your flat-fee quote.
Talk through your idea with a registered patent attorney. The call is free, with no obligation.