What is a patent "job"?
Getting a patent is a multi-year process involving many steps. Our law firm divides the patent process into significant steps or jobs along this process, allowing our clients to budget each step of the way instead of receiving never-ending "blind" monthly bills. Each job includes a quote covering from the beginning of the job to the beginning of the next job. Click on our Job-Type Descriptions for more detail.
Quote? You mean estimate, right?
No, we mean quote. When you meet with our professional staff, we will determine just what it takes to complete the job for you. We then provide a quote with an outline of the services you will receive--a scope of work--for that quote. If you agree to the quote affixed to that scope of work, we start on your patent job.
Scope of work? You work on what we agree on, like a professional contractor?
Yes, just as you would agree on the work to be performed by your plumber or landscaper, we provide a scope of the work to be performed for you with every quote. If the scope of work and quote need to fit within a limited budget, we are experienced in adjusting the scope of work to keep you in budget and still give you value for your money.
So what does a patent job on something like my idea usually cost?
Every patent job is different. The cost of each will be different based on several factors, including: complexity of the idea or type of technology, number of versions, etc. To see estimates of what we typically charge on each job type, take a look at our
Professional Fees page. To see which jobs normally come up during the patent process, take a look at our
Patent Prosecution Costs Timeline.
Can I really set a budget for you to work within?
Certainly! That's what professional contractors do! While we recommend to each client to spend what is needed to fully and completely do the job right, we also understand that sometimes budgets are limited, so we can adjust the quote by changing the scope of the work. Even if budget is next to nothing, we have tactics which can still aid our clients to get The Best Bang for the Budget®.
Why break up the process? Why not quote it all from beginning to end?
Since strategies can change with unexpected improvements, business opportunities, changes in law, etc., during the typical multi-year patent process, stepped jobs better match changing needs. Quoting it "all" up-front is less effective than choosing tactics as the patent process progresses.
