ABOUT US:
My husband, Tim, and I live in the tiny town of Darrington, WA, with our three children. Four if you count the Husky. Darrington is a low income town nestled in the foothills of the most expensive county in Washington State. We’ve been working two and a half jobs to make ends meet. My job is working as a full time elementary para educator. I adore working with kids! However, two major events have happened over the past three months that made me realize I need to start looking for an extra source of income:
1. Our school levy asking for an increase failed. If the replacement levy passes this August, I'll have a job but there will not be extra funds for a cost of living raise. If it fails, I could be laid off.
2. I've been diagnosed with two chronic diseases. I LOVE my job but it can be difficult to get through the day when I'm having a flareup. If this business idea takes off, it would provide the option of a less physically demanding job.
MY BUSINESS IDEA:
I've come up with a simple yet innovative way to keep kids and the harness straps & buckles of their car seats, strollers, and wheelchairs, clean- while keeping the child comfortable!
- No more crusty straps or gummed up release buttons!
- No more scrubbing vomit from the straps/buttons every time they get car sick! (A friend told me she wished she'd had my product when her son was little for this very reason.)
- No more food drips on your child's clothes when they eat on the go!
THE OBSTACLES:
- Our personal budget cannot handle business startup costs.
- Most startup grants require a business license, a picture of your idea, and a long term business plan.
- I cannot share a picture of the prototype or get an official quote from a manufacturer until I can say, "patent pending."
- And, it's not wise to apply for a patent before running a "patentability search" to make sure someone else hasn't already claimed the idea. (I did search for a product like mine and it does not exist.)
HOW WILL THE MONEY BE SPENT?
- Business License: $600
- Patentability Search: $1,500-$2,000
- Provisional Patent: $1,500-$2,000
- (Provisional Patent is the cheapest place to start. It gives you a year to test the market before investing in a full, non provisional patent. Those cost up to $10,000.)
- If there are any extra funds, they would go towards a website and manufacturing.
- Squarespace ecommerce website would cost about $470 up front, for a year's subscription.
- Manufacturing startup cost, not yet known
WHAT I KNOW SO FAR:
- Patent attorney said my idea sounded good and should qualify for a utility patent!
- I know what manufacturer I want to use. They are based in CA, do not have minimum order requirements, and offer warehouse and shipping services, should the business grow enough to warrant it!
- If my research & calculations are even close, I SHOULD be able to sell my product for $30 or less!
- Brand name: LambGuard
- Product name: Kid Covers
- If the kid size is a success, I will add an adult size for adults who use harness style wheelchairs and/or car seats. They deserve to be clean and comfortable too!
RISK INVOLVED:
There is a slim chance that someone has already patented the idea and just hasn't marketed it. In the off chance that happens, I will refund whatever money is left.
This is the risk anyone seeking a patent faces. But if I don't try, I'll never know.
CONCLUSION
I found one startup grant I qualified for without needing a product pic and have already applied! This month's winners will be announced June 21st.
While grants are not guaranteed, I'm willing to do the work of applying for as many as possible! But as stated above, I cannot qualify for the others without being further along in the process. And I simply cannot afford to do so without financial help.
I’m ready to give this idea everything I’ve got. I’m tired of worrying, “what if it doesn’t work out?” Instead, I’ve been asking, “what if it does?!” With your help, I will be able to launch my business and work towards increasing our family’s income in a way that is better for my health, while making life for parents a little bit easier.
Whether you give or not, THANK YOU for taking the time to read my story!