INVENTION EVALUATION FORM

Each factor should objectively be assigned a commercial advantage or disadvantage score on a scale of -100 to +100 (-100 being a significant disadvantage and +100 being a significant advantage). If the factor is irrelevant to your invention, a value of 0 should be assigned. You should not base any decisions solely upon use of this form. Remember, this form is only effective if you are objective in evaluating your invention (hint: if you don't have any negative factors you probably weren't objective!).

EXAMPLE: If the "cost" to build and use your invention is much more expensive than conventional products you should give that factor a score between -50 to -100. If the "weight" of your invention is much lighter than conventional products you should give that factor a score between +50 to +100. If the overall size of your invention is not important to consumers you should give that factor a score of 0 as not applicable. You continue this process with all of the factors and then add the Total Score.

You should print out this form after filling it out for review later.

Factor		Weight
1.	Building & Use Cost. Is the invention cheaper or more expensive to build and use than current products?
2.	Weight. Is the invention lighter or heavier than current products if important?
3.	Size. Is the invention smaller or larger than conventional products?
4.	Safety and Health Factors. Is the invention safer and healthier than what is already known?
5.	Speed. Is the invention able to do a job faster or slower than conventional products?
6.	Ease of Use. Is the invention easier or harder to use than conventional products?
7.	Ease of Production. Is the invention easier and cheaper to manufacture?
8.	Repairability. Is the invention easier to repair than conventional products?
9.	Novelty. Is the invention different from conventional products?
10.	Convenience and Social Benefit. Does the invention make life easier and more convenient for the consumer?
11.	Appearance. Does the invention have a better or worse appearance than conventional products?
12.	Precision. Does the invention provide greater precision than current products?
13.	Noise. Does the invention operate more quietly than conventional products?
14.	Market Size. Is there a larger market for your invention than for previously known devices?
15.	Difficulty of Market Penetration. Is the invention an improvement of a previously accepted device? (If so, it will have an easier time penetrating the market than a completely new product.)
16.	Quality. Does the invention provide a higher quality result than existing products?
17.	Long Life Cycle. Does the invention have the potential for being sold for many years (10 years or more)?
18.	Satisfies Existing Need. Does the invention satisfy an existing, recognized need amongst consumers?
19.	Production Facilities. Does the invention require new production facilities or only a modest change to an existing production facility?
20.	Crowded or Wide Open Market. Are there few or many existing competitive products?

Michael Neustel is the founder of the National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc.