Patent & Trademark Research Service

Search patents and trademarks for inventors, businesses, and lawyers

Startup Cost
$8,000-$40,000
Difficulty
Intermediate
Time to Profit
6-15 months
Profit Potential
$8,000-$67,000/month

Overview

IP research specialists generate $100,000-$800,000 annually with 80-90% margins.

In 2025, protecting intellectual property requires thorough research.

Revenue from patent prior art searches ($500-$5,000 per search), trademark availability searches ($200-$1,500), freedom-to-operate analysis ($2,000-$15,000), patent landscape analysis ($5,000-$50,000), competitive IP intelligence, and ongoing IP monitoring ($500-$3,000 monthly).

Successful researchers understand patent and trademark classification systems, search USPTO and international databases effectively, analyze search results for relevance, identify prior art and potential conflicts, and provide clear search reports.

Inventors, businesses, and IP attorneys as clients.

Marketing through IP attorney networks, inventor associations, innovation competitions, patent search expertise, and IP research credentials.

Required Skills

  • Patent Search Methodologies
  • Trademark Search
  • IP Database Navigation
  • Technical Understanding
  • Search Analysis
  • IP Law Knowledge

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Specialized niche with less competition
  • IP protection critical for innovators
  • Can charge premium for thorough searches
  • Recurring monitoring and watching services
  • Work with innovative companies and products

Cons

  • Need specialized IP search training
  • Patent search can be highly complex
  • Technical knowledge required for some fields
  • Liability concerns for missed prior art
  • Competition from IP law firm in-house research

How to Get Started

  1. Learn patent and trademark search methodologies
  2. Master USPTO and IP database navigation
  3. Develop search analysis capabilities
  4. Market to inventors, businesses, and IP lawyers
  5. Receive and scope search requests
  6. Conduct thorough comprehensive searches
  7. Deliver search reports and recommendations

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