But unless you can raise some money and be prepared to do much, if not all, of the work yourself, your project is doomed. For starters, you will have to pay the telephone company for your calls, the post office for your postage, the stationary store for stationary and envelopes, the printer for brochures or catalogue pages and the electric company for power. You will need a location from which to work and phone equipment, an answering machine, probably a fax machine, perhaps a computer, some furniture and time, lots and lots of time. You'll notice that we have yet to mention the expense of patent searches, patent filings, legal advice, marketing and business management advice, travel expenditures, trade shows, an entertainment budget, prototypes, samples, shipping, engineering help, etc. An inventor recently quipped that since God gave him this idea, God will provide the means to accomplish it.
Miracles probably do happen.
Or should you realistically approach the financial challenges you will face and develop a solid plan to see your project through to its logical conclusion. First, determine how much you'll need. Sometimes, especially if your invention is compelling enough, they may consider joining you rather then competing with you. Be certain to have non-disclosure agreements signed before divulging the substance of your invention. This seems like an awful lot to go through.