Do you have a great invention? Are you looking to start a great business from your invention? This may be harder than you think. A great product does not automatically transfer itself into a great business. What you need is a great business model. A business model describes whom you will sell to and how. Often a poor business can be turned into a great business just by changing its business model.

In this three part series, we will discuss Don's business model evaluation method: The Gel Factors. We will show how you can tweak your existing business model, or how to create a brand new one for your product that will be successful. This second article will discuss the E in Gel: Easy Sales.

Read Al Davis' expert advice on how to do a patent search yourself. This is Davis' third in a series of five articles on do it yourself patents.

An experiment with a lighter and a plastic toy pen while he was in high school detention gave Colin Roche an idea for a new type of ergonomic pen. His invention, called the PenAgain, is a wishbone shaped pen that supports the weight of your hand so you don?t have to grip as tightly, thus reducing writer?s cramp.

Whether it's for Fido or for Morris, the market for pet products in "nontraditional" outlets (specific to retail outlets outside the traditional pet store venue) should reach nearly $4.2 billion by 2010, according to Market Trends. This area is expected to grow as pet products move into the luxury and "lifestyle" category such as diamond studded collars or designer duds for your pet. Companies like as Eddie Bauer and Louis Vitton are making luxury pet accessories and "must have" pet products. After all, your pet is the most important part of the family. (Just kidding!) But seriously, there is more money spent on things for pets than on babies - a lot more.