Invention Idea?

I have a few GREAT ideas for inventions. I have shared them with a few people and they ALL think they’re great ideas. I have no clue where to begin to get these onto the market. Any suggestions. I don't have a lot of money. Thanks,

You can do word searches to see if someone has already obtained a patent on your idea. For example, I just search for the terms “toilet” and “paper” and got a big list of toilet paper related inventions. Make sure you search all the way back to the beginning of the time periods covered by the database.

Then you need to find a patent attorney to prosecute an application through the USPTO. The attorney will help you obtain a “prior art” search — meaning, an extensive search of patents and publications to determine if someone else already conceived of your invention. It may be tough to find someone — patent attorneys often don't deal with individual inventors (they would prefer deal with companies) because individuals require a lot of hand-holding, and it's hard to make money serving them. Your say or local bar association should be able to refer you to someone. It will probably be at least $10,000-$15,000 in legal fees per invention, so be aware that it isn't cheap. You can work with a company that doesn't use a lawyer, but you get what you pay for. You could end up spending a lot of money and getting an invalid patent. So beware.

Finally, while you're doing all of the above, remember that until your idea is patented, it's not that tough for others to steal your ideas and file their own patent applications. Also, comprehend that showing your invention publicly or offering it for sale can compromise your right to get a patent — so learn your rights in this respect before you try to market your invention.