Patent Prosecution AI ROI Calculator: Is It Worth the Investment?
A data-driven framework for calculating the return on investment from AI patent prosecution tools, with an interactive calculator tailored to your practice.
Interactive ROI Calculator
The ROI Framework for Patent AI
Evaluating patent prosecution AI requires looking beyond the sticker price. The true calculation involves four variables:
- Hours recovered per OA (billable time)
- Increased throughput (more OAs/month)
- Better outcomes (examiner intelligence)
- Reduced missed deadlines
- Software cost (subscription or per-use)
- Onboarding time (1-2 hours typically)
- Workflow adjustment period
- Integration effort (if any)
Pricing Model Comparison: Subscription vs. Pay-Per-Use
The pricing model dramatically affects ROI, especially for smaller practices. Here is how the math works out at different volumes:
| OAs/Month | Subscription ($2K/mo) | Abigail ($49/OA) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $2,000 ($400/OA) | $245 | $1,755/mo |
| 15 | $2,000 ($133/OA) | $735 | $1,265/mo |
| 30 | $2,000 ($67/OA) | $1,470 | $530/mo |
| 50 | $2,000 ($40/OA) | $2,450 | -$450/mo |
Pay-per-use pricing is more cost-effective for practices processing up to about 40 OAs per month. Above that volume, subscription pricing may be lower in raw cost -- but consider that subscription tools often lack the depth of analysis that per-use platforms provide.
The Hidden Cost of Not Using AI
The biggest cost is not the software -- it is the opportunity cost of manual work. Consider what else attorneys could do with 2.5 recovered hours per OA:
At $300/hr, 2.5 hours = $750 in additional billing capacity per OA
Time to research examiner patterns and tailor strategy vs. template responses
2.5 hours/OA x 20 OAs = 50 hours/month available for client acquisition
Same-week responses vs. deadline-pressure responses improve client relationships
Eliminating mechanical work reduces attorney turnover and training costs
Real-World ROI Scenarios
Solo Practitioner (15 OAs/month)
The solo practitioner recovers 37.5 hours per month. This is nearly a full work week that can be redirected to client development, case strategy, or personal time.
Small Firm, 5 Attorneys (100 OAs/month)
The firm recovers 250 hours per month across all attorneys. This is equivalent to adding 1.5 full-time attorneys without the salary, benefits, or office space costs.
Why Task-Based Pricing Maximizes ROI
Abigail uses task-based pricing at $49 per Office Action response export. This model has specific advantages for ROI:
- No wasted spend in slow months. Subscription tools charge $2,000 whether you process 5 or 50 OAs. Pay-per-use scales with your actual workload.
- Predictable per-case cost. You can include $49 in your client billing as a disbursement. The cost maps directly to revenue.
- Risk-free evaluation. New users get $100 in free credits. Test the platform on real OAs before committing any budget.
- Volume discounts built in. Credit packages from $25 to $2,000 include up to 20% bonus credits at higher tiers.
Calculate Your Actual ROI
Upload a real Office Action and time the process. New users get $100 in free credits to run a meaningful test.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Weekly tips on AI-assisted patent prosecution, examiner trends, and practice efficiency.
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