All the greatest businesses first started with an idea. Are you an aspiring entrepreneur with lots of great business ideas? If so, it’s important to figure out how to really vet your ideas to make sure they are worth investing in. Having a business idea is one thing, turning it into a reality is another thing entirely.

If you’re stuck brainstorming without a plan of action, we can help. The truth is that nearly half a million people become entrepreneurs each month and that means you can as well! Read on to find out some of the tried and true methods of turning a great business idea into a revenue generator.

Who Is Your Target Market?

One of the first things to ask yourself when you have a great business idea is who will this really benefit. If your target market is too broad, you’ll have a hard time breaking into the market. Finding a niche market with a solution to a niche pain point is one of the best ways to start a new business. Other questions to consider are:

• How big is my target market?
• How much will those people pay to fix their problems?
• What else is important to these people?
• How can I understand their wants and needs better?

Do Competitive Research

There isn’t anything more frustrating for a new business than to invest time and money in a great business idea only to find out after the face that someone else has already thought of it and beat you to the punch. Rather than relying on the chance that you’re the “first” with the idea, do some competitive research to see what other solutions currently exist for the problem you’re trying to solve.

Even if there are other companies with potential solutions to the problem you’re trying to solve, do a deep dive to see what actually sets you apart. If your business idea has enough unique attributes, it may still be well worth investing in. You won’t know until you do the research, though, so get out there and see what your competition has to offer.

Figure Out Your Strategy

This is where the rubber meets the road. You could have the best business idea in the world, but if you have no way of accomplishing it, it’ll only ever stay an idea. Determining how you’ll accomplish your plan is where you set yourself apart in the long run.