Funny, I bet most of us out there have tried to come up with an invention or two. I know I surely have. Not that I really wanted to become a great inventor, I just really think by using items or doing certain tasks I had a tool that would make it a ton easier!

My wife’s brother for example had a couple of great ideas, never would tell anyone and never tried to get it to market. Literally years later, they popped up in magazines and on a home shopping show. He was completely sick.

So what should happen next if you think you have a great idea to bring to market? First read this article. It will help you to understand just exactly what a patent is.

Next, without telling anyone your idea, you need to get the initial design done as well as sourcing out some places to do your first prototype. If you the think you can handle the costs to get this rolling, you need to then file for a patent. Do not let this idea out of the bag until you have protected it.

Many small inventors have done just this and, poof, without a second thought someone steals the idea to use as their own!

So trust nobody, research some costs, and then protect the idea with a patent.