The costs associated with obtaining a patent for a tool include USPTO fees, patent attorney fees, patentability searching fees, and patent drawing fees. The highest and most variable cost will almost always be patent attorney fees. Some patent attorneys charge flat rate one-time fees for preparing and filing a patent application. Other patent attorneys charge an hourly rate for their services. USPTO fees will vary based on your entity status. For example, individual inventors pay less than corporations. Preliminary patentability searching fees and patent drawing fees are typically flat rate. A patent attorney will likely perform the patent search themselves or use the services of a patent search company they trust. USPTO application fees: $755-$3020+ Preliminary patentability searching: $500-$1000+ Patent attorney fees: $3000-$10000+ Patent drawing fees: $30-$200+ Total Cost $4,285-$14,220+