Lets say you create something, an invention
 

What do you do then?

The sites that come up from a search seem like rip off sites....what would a nobody do to get something made, a prototype perhaps?

No, I dont have anything in mind, but every now and then you think of something (usually in my case it already exists) but what then?

Do you have to spend thousands of bucks no matter what, just to get a prototype made or find someone to build one?

Barter the idea in exchange for pron.

Depending on what it is it may not take thousands of bucks, but yes, if you've got a good idea and you want to pursue it, you're likely going to need a working sample/prototype in order to get venture capital money.

Hamburger earmuffs?

Unfortunately yeah, to actually see the idea to the prototype stage would be quite expensive one way or another (either in actual personal monetary expense or through sharing equity in the venture with other parties). If you know someone with the technical ability and resources to actually build you a prototype (and it's likely you're underestimating those requirements), it's worth approaching them with the idea as I suppose there's some chance they'd be interested in giving it a shot for the pure curiosity/challenge of it. Odds are low that you'll be thrilled with the results in that case, but it could help you refine the design and get an initial understanding of production challenges.

To protect the idea itself, there isn't a whole lot you can do without investing the time or legal expense to pursue patent protection. Sketching out the concept in a detailed and coherent way and then mailing it to yourself (keeping it sealed to maintain the integrity of the postmark) has always been the default poor man's way to give you some leg to stand on that you had the idea when you had it, but it's not much of a leg really. Emailing the same to yourself and a few trusted others would probably offer a similarly low level of proof to back up any claim you might later want to make to the original idea as well.

Prototypes are expensive, sometimes really expensive. If you're serious about this, I'd recommend doing research on the market the product would serve, establish a basis that this product would be differentiated in a way that would appeal to consumers, and attempt to quantify the opportunity for the product in a way that's interesting and exciting. Even something as basic as some rough figures will be helpful as you're trying to find the right technical person/people to work with on developing the concept. You'll want to say that sprockets (or whatever) are a billion dollar a year industry and that the features of the flasch-sprocket would be superior to 90% of the sprockets on the market. You can also identify major sprocket producers who will be interested in purchasing the idea once you've proven the concept and secured a patent if the idea of founding and building a business sounds too daunting for either yourself or those you're talking to. Doing this work will give you a chance to present the idea to others in a way that makes the endeavor meaningful and explains the potential upside.

But that kind of brings us back to the beginning, one way or another it's expensive. You'll either be spending a good deal of money, or spending a good deal of time to develop the idea to a point where it's capable of motivating others to invest their own time and energy into it. Good luck, this isn't meant to discourage, just to underline that if you don't take something like this seriously, it won't ever be anything serious.

awesome info malc...

I dont have anything but im sure, like everyone else, you come up with something at sometime and think to yourself, that'd be cool....but then what do you do with it.

Ive been lucky enough to find most of my ideas already exist thus saving me that time and effort (except my movie idea, ahem im not a member of the WGA so who wants some :) ) but I was thinking "what if?"

Flux Capacitor??

Send it to me and I'll get it trademarked and all that.

I worked toward an idea for a product that would get women to throw themselves at me, but it never got further than the "I wish I had a product that would get women to throw themselves at me" stage.

There's already a patent for the fleshlight.

It must involve bottling the essence of a 5th grade Pumpy.

pet centaurs

This is probably right. Unfortunately, my mother killed that spirit by taking me out of school in 6th grade and homeschooling me. :(

Listen, if you do the market research work I suggested, you might be able to develop the idea to a point where it will motivate others to invest their time and energy into throwing women at you.

If you are serious, find the nearest Small Business Association office and get some advice from them. I spent about a year working in one, and many folks like you came in. There is a lot of info and experience there, and they will point you in the right direction.

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html

Odds are not good, however, for your success. If you have a dream, pursue it.

I've got Akon working on this for me, thanks.

I personally like the term flaschsprocket.

Farm music is a powerful aphrodesiac.

+1

Assuming that your idea has merit, the SBA can give you some advice on how to access the folks with money.