In some states experienced SBDC (Small Business Development Center) counselors are available to assist you. Their services are free or minimal (a tiny fraction of an invention promotion company).

SBDCs are part of the SBA, (U.S. Government Small Business Administration) and are dedicated to helping inventors and start-up businesses succeed. Those that are Patents in Commerce Affiliates have all the PIC tools you need to succeed.

The PIC tools--DVDs, workbooks, books, journals, software, forms and one-on-one counseling with experts--cover every imaginable aspect of invention. This includes patent searching, patent writing, trademark searching, prototyping, invention marketing, licensing, financing and manufacturing.

SBDCs also provide Patents in Commerce seminars where you can learn to commercialize your innovations in a fraction of the time with a 100% success rate.

Start out today, contact your local PIC/SBDC Affiliate and get your FREE start-up kit. Start out right, save money and avoid costly mistakes.

CLIENT COUNSELING

SBDC Affiliates are able to provide expert counseling to new and existing clients, whether it be market research, manufacturing assistance or any number of facets of invention development and intellectual property.

If you are a small business or an independent inventor, it's not always easy to find qualified counselors. SBDC Affiliates have over 20 of the nations finest invention development and intellectual property experts at their fingertips.

Experienced counselors help clients identify their present need and then have the client view the appropriate Patents in Commerce DVD. Afterward is a review session with the counselor, then the client applies the information in the Patents in Commerce workbook. There is no better or safer way for an inventor or small business to start out!

SBDC clients may also be counseled on-on-one with a participating PIC expert. Typically this would be a 30 minute phone call or via email. SBDC clients may also be counseled one-on-one with a

participating PIC expert. SBDC clients may also be counseled one-on-one with a participating PIC expert.

The Patents in Commerce DVDs, books, software and materials are the most important components of the SBDC's invention development and intellectual property library. Clients may use this library as needed.

PATENT and TRADEMARK SEARCHING

SBDC client counseling includes patent and trademark searching. In minutes clients are assisted with patent and trademark searching through the use of the PIC software, PatentHunter and TrademarkHunter.

Effortlessly and in minutes expert patent searches are produced directly through the U.S. Patent Office or the European Patent Office databases. A complete report with patent copies is generated, which the client may take.

Trademark searches are also conducted directly through the U.S. Patent Office database with the software, TrademarkWizard. It's a snap to search and generate a report on both word and picture marks throughout the government database.

Locate an SBDC Affiliate near you.

PATENT WRITING

Even patent writing assistance is available at SBDC Affiliate centers. By using the PatentWizard software, counselors help clients write provisional patent applications. The applications may then be submitted to a patent attorney for review and editing.

The saving of time and money for a company or inventor is enormous! The quality of the self-drafted patent application is unsurpassed. It is in the exact format required by the U.S. Patent Office. Believe it or not, inventors can be patent pending in just a few hours!

PATENTS IN COMMERCE SEMINARS

Get ready for some incredible insight and inside secrets in the field of inventing and patenting.

Many SBDC Affiliates will offer the complete 20 segment PIC training series that takes participants through the entire process. Each segment is three hours and scheduled on a regular basis, for example Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00. Graduation and Certificates of Completion are granted for the 30 hour training course.

Some smaller SBDC offices may elect to highlight the more popular PIC segments instead. In doing this, participants will have the opportunity to meet later in a private counseling session to cover additional PIC training segments to fulfill their needs.

Last, some SBDCs may provide seminars led by a PIC expert. This include seminars by some of America's leading invention and patent experts, such as the action-packed one day workshop From Patent to Profit, led by one of IPT's seminar leaders.

Locate the Patents in Commerce seminars near you.

LOCATE an SBDC AFFILIATE

Patents in Commerce SBDC Affiliates are listed on the locator map as they are certified. Individuals searching for information on inventing, patenting and product development may click on the map to find an SBDC office, and make that first visit. 

WANT TO BECOME AN AFFILIATE?

We'd like to hear from you. Send us an email and let us know what is the best time to contact you. A representative will call and send the requested information.

SBDCs Affiliates MAY sign-in at the top left to the Affiliate administration web pages for training support documents, counseling assistance, booking seminars, ordering and contact information.

Any way you look at it...Training Pays! Education is the most powerful word in the 21st century.