Entrepreneurs: Have an Idea for a Product Invention??
Guest post by Andrew Lisa
Every invention started with an idea. The road between concept and market, however, is long and fraught with difficulties and obstacles. But if you’re an entrepreneur with a concept for an invention, it’s certainly not impossible! You have the idea, you have the sales techniques – you’ve even sought inspiration from a seminar with a business speaker. But now what?
A great idea is the first step to a marketable, profitable invention.
Obstacles in the Beginning
According to “Top Advice for Aspiring Inventors,” there are three main hurdles you’ll need to jump in the beginning. First, you have to figure out if your idea has already been taken. Next, determine what materials and funding you’ll need. Finally, you’ll need to come up with a valuable, unique and original idea for marketing.
Finding Solutions
Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Not only do they offer advice to aspiring inventors, but they’ll walk you through the significant bureaucratic layers you’re going to have to navigate. Also, this is the place to search for previous patents to make sure your awesome idea wasn’t already someone’s earlier awesome idea.
About Patents
There are three types of patents: design, plant and utility patents. Most patents are utility patents and deal with useful processes, machines, manufacturing and composition of matter. Plant patents deal with new, asexually produced plants and design patents deal with ornamental characteristics. Utility patents last for 20 years. Plant and design patents last for 14 years.
The first step is to make sure your idea hasn’t already been patented.
An idea is a good start. From there, you have to begin the daunting and sometimes frustrating journey toward gaining a patent. When you’re finished, however, you’ll be an entrepreneur who is among the few who turned a good idea into a marketable reality. If you have the sales techniques to back up your invention, your idea can quickly go from marketable to profitable. You might also have an idea for your employer that could well advance your career.
Andrew Lisa is freelance business writer. He covers small business management and promotion.
Following Andrew Lisa’s methodical instruction will lead you to the Smooth Sale!
Read Addtional Strategies and Techniques:
Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results, Sourcebooks
HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews, Career Press
