InventHelp is an invention promotion company. They don’t draft patent applications. They don’t file anything with the USPTO. What they do is market your invention to manufacturers, hoping someone will license it.
A lot of inventors approach InventHelp thinking they’re getting patent help. They’re not. Understanding that distinction before you spend money matters more than almost anything else in this article.
What InventHelp Actually Does
InventHelp creates marketing materials for your invention and submits those materials to companies in their network. The pitch is that a manufacturer will see your invention and offer to license it.
That’s a fundamentally different service from patent filing. A patent agent or attorney writes a legal document and files it with the USPTO. You get a filing date, patent pending status, and (eventually) an enforceable patent. InventHelp gives you a marketing package and manufacturer outreach.
Both services exist for a reason. But they solve different problems. And the order in which you use them matters.
How Much Does InventHelp Cost?
InventHelp packages range from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more. What you get for that money is marketing materials and manufacturer submissions. You don’t get a patent application.
For comparison, a professionally drafted provisional patent application typically costs $2,000 to $6,000. A non-provisional (utility) patent runs $5,000 to $15,000+. These produce a filed application with the USPTO and patent pending status. See our full patent cost breakdown for details.
The FTC Complaint
In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint alleging that InventHelp misled consumers about its success rate in getting inventions licensed and about its relationships with manufacturers. This is public record and something anyone researching InventHelp should know about.
The FTC alleged a pattern of misleading claims about how often inventor submissions led to licensing deals. You can find the case details on the FTC website.
This doesn’t mean every experience with InventHelp is negative. But the regulatory history is relevant context when you’re deciding where to put your money.
Patent Filing vs. Invention Promotion
Here’s the core distinction:
| Patent Filing | Invention Promotion | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Filed patent application with USPTO | Marketing materials, manufacturer outreach |
| Who does the work | USPTO-licensed patent agent or attorney | Sales and marketing team |
| Legal protection | Yes (patent pending status, enforceable claims) | No |
| Cost range | $2,000 - $15,000+ | $2,000 - $10,000+ |
| Regulated by | USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline | FTC (general consumer protection) |
Many first-time inventors confuse these services because both appear to “help with patents.” But one produces a legal document that protects your invention. The other produces marketing materials that promote it.
The Order of Operations
For most inventors, filing a patent application first is the smarter sequence. Patent pending status gives you legal protection and negotiating leverage. You can pursue licensing or marketing after your application is filed, from a stronger position.
If you approach a manufacturer without a patent, they can simply copy your idea. If you approach with patent pending status, they know you have legal standing.
When InventHelp Might Make Sense
InventHelp may be relevant if you already have a patent application filed and want help marketing your invention to manufacturers. If you understand that promotion services are separate from patent filing, and you have realistic expectations about licensing outcomes, it’s a legitimate service category.
When You Need a Patent Professional Instead
If you need a patent application drafted and filed with the USPTO, you need a patent agent or patent attorney. If you want your invention protected before you pursue manufacturing or licensing, that’s a patent filing question.
The key question to ask yourself: “Do I need legal protection for my invention, or do I need someone to market it?” If the answer is legal protection, you need a patent professional. If the answer is marketing, and you already have a patent filed, then promotion services might be worth exploring.
Common Questions
Is InventHelp a patent agent or patent attorney?
No. InventHelp is an invention promotion company. They may refer you to an attorney in their network, but their primary business is marketing services. A patent agent or attorney is the person who actually writes and files the application.
Do I need marketing help before filing a patent?
Usually not. Patent filing and marketing are separate processes. In most cases, you should file the patent application first to establish your filing date, then pursue marketing and licensing from a stronger position.
What if I already paid InventHelp?
If you paid for promotion services but don’t have a patent application filed, you can still file directly with a patent agent or attorney. The money spent on marketing is separate from patent filing costs.
How do I find a patent professional?
Look for a USPTO-registered patent agent or patent attorney. You can verify registration on the USPTO’s roster of patent practitioners. We’re also building a directory of patent professionals to make this easier.