Provisional patent preparation alternatives

Not every invention needs a full traditional engagement.

Compare DIY filing, templates, general-purpose AI, guided drafting, defined attorney review, and direct counsel by the work each path actually includes—not by the label on the checkout page.

Transparent scope · Verified PPMS pricing · Government filing fees separate

From $599 guided drafting
$1,399 with attorney review
Direct counsel when stakes require

Choose the help level

DIY

Lowest cash cost

Highest learning burden

Template / general AI

Basic structure

Limited process

Guided drafting

$599

Eight-agent workflow

Attorney review

$1,399

Defined human feedback

Traditional counsel

Custom scope

Direct engagement

Compare the work—not just the checkout price

Five preparation models. Different jobs and boundaries.

The honest comparison is not “software versus lawyers.” It is how much guidance, legal judgment, drafting work, filing help, and responsibility each path includes.

PathStarting costWho draftsLegal reviewWho filesOften fits
DIYUSPTO fee + your timeYouNoneYouStraightforward facts and time to learn
Template / general AIVariesYou with generic structureUsually noneYouOrganizing information you already understand
PPMS Self-Serve$599 + USPTO feeEight-agent guided workflowNot includedYouStructured first draft before a larger legal investment
PPMS AI + Attorney Review$1,399 + USPTO feeGuided workflow45-minute strategy call + 1 hour feedbackYouDefined legal input without a full traditional engagement
Traditional attorney engagementCustom and variableAttorney or agentDirect and scope-specificDefined by engagementComplex, urgent, disputed, international, or high-stakes matters

Provisional patent application help

More guidance than a template. Less friction than starting from a blank page.

Patent Pending Made Simple is built for inventors who can explain how their invention works and want help turning those facts into a structured first draft.

01

Blank template

Too little guidance

A form can organize what you already know, but it may not help uncover missing technical detail, alternatives, or implementation choices.

02

General-purpose AI

One prompt is not a drafting process

Patent drafting benefits from separate passes for scope, support, language, consistency, and the relationship between the invention’s parts.

03

Traditional engagement

Valuable—when the timing is right

Full attorney-led work can be the right choice for higher-stakes matters. Early-stage inventors may need a serious first draft before that investment makes sense.

Clear boundaries build trust

Know when to start here—and when to call counsel now.

A practical fit

Start with Patent Pending Made Simple

  • You need an early filing date while validating the market.
  • You can explain how the invention works and what could vary.
  • You want a structured draft before a larger legal investment.

Higher-stakes situations

Bring in a patent attorney now

  • Ownership or inventorship is disputed or unclear.
  • A high-stakes deadline, public disclosure, or litigation risk is close.
  • You are ready for non-provisional strategy or examination work.

Patent Pending Made Simple supports drafting and preparation. It does not replace legal advice for your specific situation.

Choose your level of support

Start at $599. Add help when you need it.

Every inventor plan uses the same eight-agent drafting workflow. Choose self-serve, attorney review, or filing support.

See Pricing →

Self-Serve

$599per application

AI drafts · You file

AI + Attorney Review

$1,399per application

Attorney reviews · You file

White Glove

$1,599per application

Attorney reviews · We file

Government filing fees are paid separately to the USPTO and vary by entity status. See the full patent cost guide for preparation, filing, prosecution, and longer-term costs.

Alternatives, answered plainly

Know what changes when the help level changes.

Is Patent Pending Made Simple a law firm?+

Patent Pending Made Simple is an AI-assisted drafting platform designed by patent professionals. The $599 Self-Serve plan does not include legal advice. The $1,399 AI + Attorney Review plan adds a defined strategy call and draft feedback from a licensed patent attorney.

How is this different from using general-purpose AI?+

General-purpose AI responds to a prompt. Patent Pending Made Simple uses a sequential eight-agent workflow for invention intake, structured drafting, section-level revision, consistency, and export. You still verify the facts and decide whether attorney review is appropriate.

How is this different from a template?+

A template supplies headings and fields. The guided workflow asks for invention-specific information and turns it into an editable draft. Neither a template nor software determines legal sufficiency or patentability.

When should I hire a patent attorney directly?+

Direct counsel is the better default when ownership, inventorship, disclosure timing, foreign rights, deadlines, commercial stakes, nonprovisional strategy, prosecution, licensing, or enforcement require individualized legal judgment.

Who files the application?+

With Self-Serve and AI + Attorney Review, you file and pay USPTO fees. White Glove adds paralegal filing support.

Guided drafting · From $599

More guidance than a template. Less friction than starting from scratch.

Use the eight-agent workflow to build an editable provisional application draft, then choose self-review, licensed-attorney feedback, or filing support.

Government filing fees are separate. Software assistance is not legal advice. Direct counsel may be the right choice when the facts or stakes require it.