Make no mistake: there’s a lot of work to be done if you’re going to turn that brand spanking new idea into a real-life, on-the-shelf item. Manufacturing a new product is expensive, so before you get China on the phone, there are a few important steps you’d better take.

Assuming you’ve done your research, worked out the kinks and the concept is solid, this infographic from Entrepreneur.com breaks down the rest of the process, starting with the patenting and ending with your shiny new doodad hitting the shelves. 

Infographic via Entrepreneur.com