Sell Or Patent

I know that I have wriiten about this before but it is worth repeating.
The most important thing is to get your product to market NOT getting it patented.
The money spent on the Patent search and the Patent process is better spent on finalizing the design and getting prototypes and finding a reliable source.
If you are lucky enough to sell the product then you can go through the Patent process. Having a Patent does not guarantee anything except the fact you will spend money and you might have a Patent at the end of the day.
Here is some information on costing and timing for a Patent.


The complexity of the technology is the big variable with regard to patent searching and filing costs. Patent searches usually run between about $500 to $1500, with electrical, biotech, and business methods on the high end and simple mechanical inventions on the low end. Nonprovisional applications run between about $5000 to $8000, broken down the same as with the searches, e.g., mechanical costing less and electrical, etc, being more.

Provisional applications usually run about $1000 to $1500 depending in large part on the adequacy of the inventor's disclosure. Very complete disclosures may cost as little as $500.

The time can be anywhere from 1 year to 3+ years. Biotech and business methods are more backed up than other technology areas and may be 4+ years.