What is the first step in patenting a idea and product

The first step is to put it on paper. As you consider your creation, write down every little thing that applies, what it is, what it does, what it is for, how to use it, how it reduces the workload, how it is built, why the world needs one more gadget, everything. You will need to describe it in detail, every last part. Regardless of your art skills, make a drawing of it. You will need to think about who is going to use or need it, and think about how you might market it to them. All of that should also be included in your notes.

If you can, create a prototype. It does not matter how it looks, or even if you use a cardboard toilet paper tube to represent a similar size and shaped part, but it has to function in accordance with your designed plans.

Once you get a few dozen note sheets written out, go back through and organize it into a detailed report. Make sure everything is dated. It might be a good idea to keep all your original hand written and dated notes, and include a copy of your assembled and finished report. Put all of it in an envelope and mail it to yourself, but do not open it when you get it back. The postmark is one piece of evidence of your dated creation.

Once you get all that organized, you will need to do a patent search. You will most likely need the help of a patent attorney. You need to be aware that there are thousands of patents on all kinds of things that never got produced. Even though you have never seen anything like it, there is a possibility that something very close is already patented. It is also possible your idea may be added to that pile. Very few ideas actually make it to the real world in comparison to those that are not successful.

You want to get a patent pending prior to attempting to market your product, but you would most likely be better off waiting to get the actual patent until you get any modification input from whoever is going to manufacture your product for you. The patent attorney can advise you on further steps, but all of this is just to get the gears rolling in the right direction.

Good luck.

The first thing you should do? Your doing it. Ask questions to make sense and understand what you need to do before you contact any company.
I lost thousands of dollars last year paying a company to work for me. What a mistake and I'm still trying to get my money back. I probably will but it will take some time.
I suggest the second thing you do is to link up with successful inventors and entrepreneurs who help wanna be inventors. I wish I did. I now write online to help protect the innocent and naive not to make the same mistakes I did.
Go to GotInventionRadio.com. Brian Friend is the host of the show and it's a free talk radio show that airs every Thursday night. You can listen in or call in during the live show to ask a question. Brian Friend lives in my area and I've meet him in person and now we help each other succeed.
Here is free website I put together to help people understand that there is a whole lot of free information you can receive and a lot of free support. productidea.yolasite.com Facebook pages filled with inventors and entrepreneurs who help each other. Links to Twitter and YouTube. I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised at how many people are willing to offer advice and guidance to protect young wanna be inventors. Go for it and don't be taken for a ride. Protect yourself and your idea. Don't trust any company you come across online that tells you they will do all the work for you. I've lived it and feel I was scammed.

Patenting an idea or product requires money so your first step would be to analyze budget, and generate revenue for creation. The whole process is a gamble so an attorney would be my second step.