How much does it cost to get an IP for an idea?

Mikhail, It depends on what you are trying to protect. If you have an invention and you use an attorney to patent the invention, the patenting expense could be anywhere from $5000-$20,000 by the time the patent issues and depending who you hire. Complex chemical/pharma patents will cost even more. If that isn't an option for you, Nolo Press used to put out (and may still) a DIY book on patenting and/or you could look for a law school with a patent clinic that might help you. If the idea is a work of art (music, sculpture, architecture, writing, etc.), you can copyright it at www.copyright.gov. That expense is $40 if you do it on your own and hundreds of dollars if you use an attorney. If your idea is neither patentable, nor copyrightable, you may still be able to protect the idea as a trade secret with contracts to maintain its confidentiality while you work to find ways to exploit it. For these types of ideas, you want to be first to market and positioned to make most of your money within a couple of years of hitting the market. After that, if you are successful, someone will come along and copy your idea while undercutting your price and likely push you out of the market. Good luck, Todd