Have you been struck by the perfect idea that you can’t believe hasn’t been done before? Looking to turn a passion for engineering into a start-up venture where you are your own boss, trading off your skill?

If you’re ready to invent the next big thing, here are five handy tips on how to approach bringing it to the wider world.

Make sure your idea is new

It might seem obvious but don’t let yourself get carried away when a great idea occurs to you. It’s critical to research whether the product of which you’ve thought already exists – or if something very similar has been created – before going deeper into the process. You definitely don’t want to find out that such a thing exists after you’ve already invested in a copy.

Conduct market research

If your product doesn’t already exist elsewhere, great! The next step, though, is even more research. Look into your target market and establish as clearly as possible whether there is a need for your product – whether your target audience is actively asking for it or simply if there is nothing else out there that addresses the same problems.

Secure the rights

In order to ensure that you and only you have the rights to manufacture and profit from your big idea, you’ll need to apply for a patent that protects your intellectual property. This is vital to prevent competitors from noticing you and simply copying you, potentially with more resources to bring to bear and drown you out completely.

Write a business plan

Simply having a great idea isn’t enough – if you want to bring it to the masses, you’ll need to have a plan for the whole operation of running a business. This will be especially important if you think that you’ll need to seek investment to make your dreams a reality, so make sure to lay out your expectations thoroughly and realistically. Doing this before you start actually spending money will give you the foundation necessary to spend it wisely and make a success of your venture.

Develop a prototype

Once you are confident that you have a good idea that is realistic to produce and sell, leaving you ready to start your journey as an entrepreneur, then it’s time to get to work – perhaps by using a PCB prototype service to demonstrate the effectiveness of you product before taking it to full production. It’s possible to begin development slightly earlier in the process but, at the very least, it’s often smart to make sure that you have a patent first.

It’s a big step to move into business but, if you’ve done your research, you’ll already know that the world is ready and waiting for your big idea. We wish you luck as you use these tips to bring it all to fruition.