Planning a European patent? EPO Fee Assistant clarifies patent costs

A new tool for SMEs: the EPO Fee Assistant 

Planning a European patent application often starts with one big question: “What will this actually cost us?”.

Until now, getting a clear answer meant digging through fee tables, juggling rules, and hoping nothing was overlooked. Good news: the European Patent Office (EPO) has launched the Fee Assistant, a simple and surprisingly user-friendly tool that finally gives companies a straightforward view of the fees they will owe as the applicant. 
 

Why this matters for SMEs 

For many companies, filing a patent is an important investment, but budgets are tight and decisions must be based on reliable numbers. The new Fee Assistant does exactly that:

• It tells you which EPO fees apply at each early step of the process
• It indicates whether your company qualifies for fee reductions
• It helps you anticipate and plan, rather than getting surprised halfway through

This is especially helpful for SMEs who only file occasionally and don’t have a dedicated in-house patent department. 
 

It works for the filing entity: your company 

The tool calculates fees based on the applicant, meaning the company (or individual inventor) that files the patent application.  This is important because fee reductions apply only to the filing entity, not to partners, investors, sister companies or advisors.

If you want to understand whether you qualify for the EPO’s reduction schemes, you can also check our previous Sirris article on fee reductions, where we explain the conditions for small and micro-entity support in practical terms. 
 

Important: this only covers EPO Fees 

The Fee Assistant gives you a clear picture of EPO administrative fees, but this is only part of the full cost of patent protection.  As an company planning ahead, keep in mind:

• Attorney fees are not included: drafting, filing, responding to the EPO, strategy advice… these professional services form a significant part of the total cost
• International protection costs extra: if you later want protection in other countries (inside or outside Europe), additional procedures and fees apply
• National validations or a Unitary Patent are also outside the scope of this tool

Still, understanding the EPO fees is a crucial first step and the Fee Assistant gives you exactly that clarity. 
 

Conclusion

For SMEs and inventors, the new EPO Fee Assistant is a practical tool. It gives you an immediate overview of what you’ll pay, when you’ll pay it, and whether you can benefit from reductions.

It won’t replace strategic guidance or a full cost estimate, but it removes a major source of uncertainty and helps you make better, earlier decisions.