Idea Reality Check
Get a professional assessment of your idea before you spend more money and energy on it.
- A written report
- and a one-hour consultation
- A clear recommendation
- go, adjust or stop
- One fixed fee
- $1,950 + GST
Why good ideas don’t make it
Most good ideas never reach the shelf. Not because they’re bad ideas, but because:
Good ideas
- the owner overestimates what the idea is worth at the early stage
- the real costs of making, selling and distributing it are underestimated
- there’s no clear plan for who will buy it, or how it reaches them
- people expect overnight success, and give up when it takes longer
The shelf
Getting a product to market is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. You need to know what the course looks like before you start.
Is it for you?
- You have an idea for a product and don’t know where to start.
- You’ve made a prototype and want to know what comes next.
- You’re about to spend serious money on a patent, a prototype or a first production run.
- Someone has offered to develop or market your invention for a fee, and you’d like an independent second opinion first.
SampleIs it worth taking to market?
Fold-flat ladder hook
Prepared for: Client name
Report date: October 2026
Prepared by Murray McLeod
Licensed business broker · Registered Business Valuer (RBV S92009)
Makap Pty Ltd trading as Idea Reality Check
ABN 82 130 715 034 · PO Box 364, Miranda NSW 1490
murraymcleod.com
What you get
A clear, independent written report covering:
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Market potential
who will buy it, how many, and what they’ll pay
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Realistic value
what the idea is worth now, and what it could be worth later
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Costs and hurdles
development, manufacturing, protection and launch
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What’s already out there
similar products and ideas, and what that means for yours: is your idea new, or an improvement on an existing product?
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Protecting it
when the right time is to lodge a patent, or if you need to
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Route to market
make it yourself, license it, sell it, or export it
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A clear recommendation
go, adjust or stop, with your next three steps
You will get a subjective written report with recommendations and suggestions for either abandoning or moving ahead. The report will outline various suggestions as to what will be required, and ask you to consider the comments and invite you to come back for further consultation if appropriate.
Plus a one-hour consultation to talk through the findings: face to face if possible, or online or by phone, depending on where you are.
How it works
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Call
An initial phone call to talk about your idea.
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Share
After the first call, we both sign a mutual confidentiality agreement (NDA). Then you provide all the available information: prototypes, drawings and concept details.
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Assess
Once you’ve accepted the proposal and paid, Murray researches and evaluates your idea, generally within 3 weeks.
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Report
You receive the written report and your one-hour consultation, face to face if possible.
One fixed fee
You know the cost before you start. Payment is made upfront, once you’ve accepted the proposal and before the assessment begins.
If you decide to go ahead, optional ongoing mentoring (From Idea to Market) is available, with no obligation.
Idea Reality CheckFixed fee
$1,950+ GST
- Reality Check
- $1,950.00
- GST
- $195.00
- Total
- $2,145.00
Check your idea first
Nine questions, about two minutes. See where your idea stands, and where Murray’s experience comes in.
Area 1 of 5
Can it be made?
Have you built a prototype or a working model?
Do you know roughly what each one would cost to make?
Questions people ask
Will you tell me if my idea won’t work?
Yes. That is the point of the reality check: a frank answer on the viability of the idea and its possible commercialisation, and whether it will be worth the extra investment to get to market and get the returns envisaged.
Is my idea kept confidential?
Yes. You and I sign a mutual confidentiality agreement (an NDA), so that what we share stays confidential.
Do I need a patent before I talk to you?
No. The NDA gives you comfort before you start spending money on patent protection for your idea or invention.
What if my idea is worth pursuing?
Once the initial assessment is done, we discuss the next steps. I can help put you on the right track, or help with the next steps of the journey myself if you wish. It’s important to know what will be needed, and what sort of budget you’ll need to move ahead.
Can you help me sell or license the idea?
There are many ways to proceed. Licensing or finding investment partners might be the next option, depending on your situation. I can make suggestions and recommendations, and help if needed.
Can I get help paying to develop it?
It depends on how far you have got with your idea: is there a prototype, for example? Anyone keen to invest in your invention will generally want equity: most people won’t invest without a share in the future outcomes of the idea. There are many options, and I will help you go through the ones you need to consider.