I have been asked how much it costs to patent something in the U.S. I am not an expert, but, when I began the process of registering a business model in the U.S. around the year 2000, I had to have several conversations with specialized lawyers and if it helps you, here is my experience with them.
There are all types, from very expensive to very cheap, as always, and it would be a good idea to get references before selecting one. It is good enough to review the latest registries of the United States Patent Office to see which lawyers have registered and select a couple of them to speak with, first through email and later by telephone, to select the one who gives you the best feeling from their answers. Normally they ask a preliminary deposit to know that they are not wasting time with you. In our case I think it was $10,000. Later, as you describe your patent, they will help you complete the presentation form based on their experience. The registration of the patent itself is not too expensive, and the follow-through process become the most expensive because you have to pay the attorney annually to continue and defend you if someone tries to attack your patent.
I think that there is a minimum budget of $25,000 a year for this process, and, depending on the lawyers, this could cover all direct and indirect expenses. It is not cheap but it is also not prohibitive if you have something really patentable.
