Are you trying to come up with a new product for your business? Or do you have some interesting invention ideas, but you’re not sure how to turn them into a marketable product?
The process of inventing something and turning it into a profitable business is a lot of work and comes with challenges. But many inventors have made millions with helpful, innovative products that people love. Think you might have the next million-dollar idea? Before you dive headfirst into starting a business, there are a few steps you need to take. Here are a few things you can do to turn your invention idea into a profitable business.
1. Solve a problem or improve an existing product.
The best inventions solve a problem or make something that people use every day even better than it already is. So if you’re still working on coming up with an idea for your invention, think about how you can do one or both of those things.
You can do this by looking at your own life and what kind of problems you face. What’s something that complicates your life or annoys you? Think of potential solutions to your problem, and you can base your invention on them. Or look at something you use all the time. Have you ever wished that it included a certain feature or was more convenient to use? Look around, ask yourself these questions in your daily life, and soon enough you’ll come up with a great idea for an invention.
2. Do your research.
Once you have an idea, you have to do some research. The first thing you need to find out is if your idea has already been taken. You can’t sell a product as your own if someone else already has a patent for an identical invention. So get on Google and Amazon and start searching for products similar to your idea.
If you’ve confirmed that no one else has already invented the product you’d like to create, you need to move on to researching your market. If there’s no market for your product, you won’t make any money off of it. Check out the competition and learn how much it will cost to manufacture your product. Thorough research is essential if you want to build a successful business.
3. File for a patent.
Once you have an idea you’re confident about, you need to protect it. Filing for a patent will ensure that no one can steal your idea and you’ll maintain the rights to produce and sell your product. A patent attorney or agent can help with your invention and make sure you have a strong patent. Make sure you have documentation of all of your ideas and a prototype to show as well.
4. Start manufacturing your product.
Once you’ve come up with an idea and done your research, it’s time to start manufacturing your product. If you’ve made a prototype or two, you’ve probably noticed a few things you need to change in your design. You also need to decide if you’re going to start small and manufacture your product yourself, or if you’re going to hire manufacturers and other staff to help you with your business.
Starting small isn’t as risky, and doesn’t require as much of an investment to start. But it does take a lot of time, so be prepared to dedicate your life to your business to get it up and running.
Hiring an outside manufacturer and employees to help you run your business can help you to grow faster, but only if you get enough customers. If you have low sales and can’t get your product to take off, you could end up losing a lot of money.
You have to decide what’s right for you and your business. But make sure you seek advice from experienced businesspeople and do plenty of research.
5. Find investors.
If you want to grow your business, you will probably need a lot of capital. Unless you already have a lot of money, you’ll need to find an investor that’s willing to invest in your business. To pitch to an investor, you need to have a well-developed business plan and the numbers to prove that your idea has potential. You may have to pitch a number of investors before you find one that’s willing to take your deal. Otherwise, you can try taking out a business loan or borrowing from family and friends.
Inventing a product and bringing it to market is an exciting opportunity, but it’s not without its challenges. You’ll have to come up with an innovative idea that solves a problem for people and do your research to make sure there’s a market for it. Follow these steps to create an amazing invention and a profitable business.