How can I patent my idea and sell it to companies?

Answer 1

Patenting is the easy part. Selling is the hard part.

To patent an invention, all you have to do is to describe your invention in a written patent application, submit the application to the patent office, and pay the appropriate fees. Optionally, you may hire a patent attorney to help prepare your application. If the patent office thinks that your invention is useful, novel, and nonobvious and that your application meets all requirements regarding legal formalities, a patent will be granted.

As to the selling part, a sale requires both a buyer and a seller. Do your homework to see what potential buyers of your invention want. That is, research the market for your invention. Once you have found out what the market needs, you can tailor your invention and patent application accordingly.

Without knowing exactly what your invention is, I can't help you sell it. But in my experience, successful inventors/entrepreneurs tend to work every angle of their invention.

Think of it this way: Ideas are often akin a diamond in the rough embedded in a big lump of coal. Very few people will want to buy an idea in its orginal state. And the few willing to buy the idea in its orginal state will not pay you much for it. However, almost everyone planning to get married will need a wedding-ring quality diamond while others will need coal for their cookouts. If you can do the work of separating the diamond from the coal, and polishing up the diamond, you should have no problem selling your idea for top dollar.

Answer 2

You can't patent just an idea, you have to develop it into a working model first. See http://www.uspto.gov/ for a wealth of information on getting a patent.

As for selling the rights to your patent, good luck.