What is the drafting provisional patent application for a business method/process?

I have seen the output from patent drafting programs, and I don't care for the quality. Business methods need to be tied into supporting information processing systems. Good examples are patents assigned to Google, Yahoo and so forth. You could model your draft on these applications. Generally, the application should describe at least one method, at least one machine and at least one computer-readable medium. Claims are unnecessary in provisional applications. The application should recite as many embodiments of your systems and methods, even blue sky variations, as possible. The application should recite descriptions of supporting hardware, as many variations as you can think of, even if impractical or improbable. Avoid using the words "invention", "important", "essential" and "preferred". I agree its a good idea to have an experienced attorney/agent look at the app. The law relating to these types of patents is quirky. If you are performing your own search, another good resource is http://worldwide.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP, a resource provided by the EPO, which provides comprehensive international coverage. If you perform your own search and create your own draft, you can get a provisional on file for the basic filing fee. You may qualify as a microentity, which brings the fee down to $65. If you do a good job on the draft, fees for attorney/ agent review, if you go that route, could be $500-$1,000. Then you have a year to file a followup utility application, the prosecution of which could cost much more. Bear in mind, these applications have in the past take 3+ years and have less than 50% allowance rate.This answer is not a substitute for professional legal advice....

I am happy to provide an updated answer for this question as the Supreme Court issued an opinion in 2015 involving this area of patent law. In http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/13-298_7lh8.pdf, a patent troll sued a consortium of banks for using patents that were “designed to facilitate the exchange of financial obligations between two parties by using a computer system as a third-party intermediary.” In other words, the patent dispute was over a business method. A bunch of amicus briefs were submitted by tech companies like Google and LinkedIn, who feared the repercussions if this business method was held not to be a valid patent.The highest court in the land held that the patent was an “abstract idea” and therefore, not patentable pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 101. Specifically, the Court found “the method claims, which merely require generic computer implementation, fail to transform that abstract idea into a patent eligible invention.” The framework to determine if the business method is just an abstract idea has two parts:  (1) determine if the claim at issue is directed toward an abstract idea; and (2) examine the elements of the claim to determine whether it contains an “inventive concept” sufficient to transform the abstract idea into a patent-eligible application. Pretty confusing right?The vague advice from Supreme Court has caused a dramatic effect in the lower courts. In fact, just a few days ago IP Watchdog posted an http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2016/04/07/district-courts-misapplying-alice/id=68104/ “Federal Circuit guidance is needed because district courts are misapplying Alice.” Therein, the author describes that “Federal Circuit guidance is needed because many district courts have misapplied Alice and sidestepped the rigorous factual analysis that has historically been required, and should still be required, prior to patent invalidation under Section 101. Over 7,500 claims in 150 patents have been invalidated as a matter of law.” The precedent from Alice should make inventors wary of  drafting a provisional patent application on their own. It is really important to consult a seasoned patent attorney that will ensure your method rises up to the level of patentability. Finding inventors an affordable and seasoned patent attorney is something we do on a daily basis here at https://www.lawtrades.com/?t=quora. Depending on the complexity, expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for assistance with your provisional patent application. I invite you to check out us out to obtain a free fixed upfront price quote. Don't hesitate to contact me directly with any additional questions or concerns you have about protecting your software or intellectual property in general.