Gingrich Library: Your Success Is Why We're Here!
Doing some initial "poking around" can help you focus your ideas or even explore the viability of them. Google and Youtube can help you discover issues surrounding your basic idea for your business. For example, do you know how solar panels are made or how panels can be installed as a Do It Yourself project? What competitors might exist for a recycling/upcycling business (think Etsy)? What bars are located in your target area? Are there bars targeting specific populations? What do you need to stream a fitness class?
Here is a helpful guide that describes ways to montior competitors.
https://www.liveplan.com/blog/why-do-you-need-to-know-your-competition/
"provides full-text coverage of all business disciplines including accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, and strategy, as well as business theory and practice. Users will understand the activities of companies and industries worldwide through nearly 4,000 leading business and trade publications, updated daily." Includes access to The Economist.
You cannot get a patent if your invention has already been publicly disclosed. Check out the U.S. Patent Office to get started. Pay particular attention to this link for Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources.
This database can be very helpful to find market share reports reports, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, etc. Enter an industry, company or product and use the Source Type limits on the left of the screen to select the type of report you want.