Ideas Online is a new self-assessment tool available on the Smallbiz website. It will help potential and existing small business owners and operators decide if a business idea, such as a product or service they’ve invented has what it takes to be commercialised.

Many inventors and innovators struggle to take the next step with their new product or service, often because they don’t know what to do next, or they lack confidence and aren’t sure what assistance is available to them.

Ideas Online will help them to assess such things as potential demand, market approval and competitive strength so they can think about whether or not their idea is viable.

The online tool will help them to decide "what next?" and suggest other programs that I&I NSW runs that can help them to move forward.

Ideas Online is based on Discovering New Business Opportunities by John English and Babette Moate, Allen & Unwin 2009.

For more information on Ideas Online, visit www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/ideasonline.