Exactly.
(all references of "you" below are referring to your friend)
Imho, avoid those places that claim they'll help you with your idea.
Ask around / research experienced patent attorneys and choose one to assist you through the patent process.
Patent costs, depending on the scope of the patent / your motivation / time horizon, can be huge ... ie. $5K to even get the ball rolling, and $20K-$50K to get the patent ... and then there are the maintenance fees, which are sizable.
Imho, have at least $25K available to spend (cash, credit line, investors, etc) before even bothering with patenting.
And also be aware that patents are not global ... so if seeking to fully protect it in numerous other countries, there's a lot more paperwork involved adding even more cost.
Bottom line is assess your budget and contact an experienced patent attorney to determine how to best proceed.
Ron