How do I sell my invention?
Christopher Ramos
Updated on April 05, 2026
Three Steps to Selling Your Idea
- Know your market. This means gathering as much feedback as possible on your own invention idea.
- Do some legal legwork. Go as far as you can to determine if your invention is patentable or if it can be produced without infringement on other filed patents.
- Look into production.
Does my employer own my invention?
As a general rule, an employer will own the intellectual property created by its employees in the course of their employment. However, intellectual property that is created by an employee, other than in the course of employment, is owned by the employee, not the employer.
What inventions would make you rich?
12 Inventions That Could Make $1 Billion
- Energy storage. A man installing solar panels | iStock.com.
- Asteroid mining.
- Wireless electricity.
- Cheap, portable water filtration.
- Superior carbon capture tech.
- Superior fracking tech.
- Reverse microwave.
- (Good) meatless meat.
How much do inventors make on royalties?
The average royalty on a typical invention are 3-6% of the wholesale price of the product sold. The wholesale price is the price that the manufacturer sells the product to its customer.
What would happen if you invent something as a part of your job while working for a company?
The general rule is that, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, an employer is entitled to a nonexclusive license to use an invention devised by an employee while he or she was working for the employer.
How can I get companies to buy my inventions?
An inventor with patent-friendly ideas can take advantage of lucrative licensing deals should a company show interest in his invention. Whether the invention idea be in technology, skin care, or even windshield wipers, an innovator can usually find at least one company willing to have a look at the idea.
Why are companies interested in your invention ideas?
Companies across the United States and around the world continually seek innovative ideas from private citizens to find the next great product or technology and gain an edge within a particular market. An inventor with patent-friendly ideas can take advantage of lucrative licensing deals should a company show interest in his invention.
Do you need a patent to sell your invention?
Before you start looking for companies where you can sell your app idea, you will first want to patent your idea. Without a legal patent, anyone can take your idea and make it their own. Once you have the technicalities of a patent behind you, it will be time to start looking for a company that wants your idea.
Are there any companies that buy your ideas?
If you’re someone with a lot of great ideas, you are probably looking for companies that buy ideas. The good news is that there are companies that buy invention ideas and much more. For some people, coming up with a fantastic and innovative idea is easy. There is no reason not to get paid for your inventions if you are one of those people.