If you are stuggling to get your product to market, consider selling your patent to an entrepreneur. There are many intelligent men and women looking for a concept to use to start a business. In order to find the correct entrepreneur to sell your patent to, you must first understand the entrepreneurial mind.

Every entrepreneur is looking for the next best business to start up. They may not have the money, but they will certainly find a way to get it. Success is key. While they are risk takers, most entrepreneurs want to know they are investing their time and money into something that will bring them success.

So now you are wondering how to find these entrepreneurs interested in buying your patent? Like always, here is some help:

• Find out if there is an entrepreneurship group in your area.
• Post your patent onto websites, making them aware that it is available for purchase. (IdeaBuyer.com is one that I would use. They have several members that are well known entrepreneurs.)
• Look for start-up companies that could use your product.

Go to meetings and network. Meet people, find out what they are working on and tell them what you are doing. When you create those contacts, they will keep you in mind for their next business venture.

When the time is right to pitch your idea, you should know some things about the person you are pitching to.

• Do they have a partner, or are they a part of a venture capitalist group?
• What other projects have they worked on?
• What are they currently working on?
• What is the best way to reach them?

Your research should let you know which sections of your material to emphasize while pitching to them.

Suggested Sales Techniques:

1)    Emphasize your product's differences:

a.    Tell them all of the benefits of this product, and the differences. You want them to understand how easily it could be sold.

b.    When they buy your patent it will be theirs, and they need to KNOW that people want to buy it. Explain all of the reasons a customer will want to buy the product.  How does THEIR customer benefit from your product?

c.    If so, let them know about the interest that you have received.

2)    Pitch three times:

a.    Before you begin pitching, make sure to prepare your materials!

b.    Make them curious about your product. You want them to wonder about your product and its capabilities. Give them enough information but not too much.

c.    Help them to understand your product. They want to know how it works and how you were able to make it work. These details are necessary for the entrepreneur to see his/herself creating a business out of it.

d.    Push for a decision. Highlight the benefits for their customers, answer any questions, and then solicit a sale. Keep in mind that many entrepreneurs have a lot on their plate, and they are busy. They will get back to you if they are interested.

*The way the pitch is delivered is as important as the content being pitched.

3)    Show that the Product Sells:

a.    Your current customers are extremely valuable when pitching. Make sure that your customer service is excellent so that you can keep the list of customers long. A buyer wants to know that there are already people in line to purchase the product.

b.    Have some of your customers create testimonials to put into your presentation.

Start your networking within entrepreneurial circles, and soon you will have sold your patent to someone willing to run with it!

Joan Martin is a senior writer for PatentHelp.com, a website dedicated to providing inventors with free patent help. You can email her at: JoanMartin@patenthelpnow.com.