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Trademark Services
12-month priority · USPTO

File a provisional patent application. Lock the priority date.

A provisional patent application establishes a USPTO filing date (priority date) that you can claim for 12 months. During that 12 months you develop the full non-provisional application. Provisional applications are not examined, do not become patents, and expire after 12 months. They are cheap insurance for inventors who want priority but are not ready for full prosecution. We prep and file.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle Patent Provisional, end-to-end.

A provisional patent application establishes a USPTO filing date (priority date) that you can claim for 12 months.

1

Invention disclosure

You provide: written description of the invention, drawings or figures, claims (optional for provisional but recommended). We help structure the disclosure for maximum coverage.

2

Specification drafting

We draft the specification (detailed description) to support broad claims in the future non-provisional. Quality of provisional specification determines what you can claim later.

3

USPTO filing

We file with USPTO through Patent Center. Filing date is established immediately. Provisional patent application number issued.

4

12-month tracking

We track the 12-month deadline for the non-provisional. 11-month and 30-day reminders. Non-provisional must be filed before the 12-month deadline to preserve the provisional priority date.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent patent provisional pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Provisional + non-provisional

$4999
Provisional now, non-provisional within 12 months.

Provisional filing plus non-provisional drafting and filing within the 12-month window. Discount vs. pricing them separately. For inventors committed to full patent prosecution.

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Patent attorney coordination

$1999
Provisional + attorney review.

We prep the provisional; partner patent attorney reviews before filing. For high-stakes inventions where the provisional needs to be bulletproof to support broad future claims.

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FAQ

About the Provisional Patent Application Service.

What is a provisional patent?
A USPTO filing that establishes a priority date for 12 months. Not examined, does not become a patent, expires after 12 months. Used by inventors to lock priority while developing the full non-provisional application.
Do I get a patent from a provisional?
No. Provisional is just a placeholder. To get a patent, file a non-provisional within 12 months claiming priority to the provisional. Then the non-provisional gets examined and (if successful) becomes a patent.
Why file provisional?
Cheap way to lock priority. Useful when: invention is mature enough to describe but you need time to develop further claims, you want time to market-test before committing to full prosecution, you need a 'Patent Pending' status for fundraising or licensing.
Can I patent a software invention?
Generally yes if the software meets patentability requirements (novel, non-obvious, useful, eligible subject matter). Software patents face higher scrutiny under Alice v. CLS Bank (2014). We can discuss eligibility before filing.
What if I miss the 12-month deadline?
Provisional expires. You lose the priority date. You can still file a non-provisional but its priority date is the non-provisional filing date, not the provisional. Critical: track the deadline carefully.
Should I file before or after public disclosure?
Before. Public disclosure (publication, public sale, conference talk) starts a 1-year US grace period AND immediately destroys foreign patent rights in most countries. File provisional before any public disclosure to preserve global rights.
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

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