Licensing could be your better strategy when the barriers to entry for services and products which use your invention are large. Licensing is a good strategy in case your strengths and interests do not include building a company.
Invent Early, License Later
A common technique for inventors corner is to invent early after which license later. Inventors designed to use this strategy presciently find the best solutions to problems years before their peers. Then they declare and receive patent protection for their inventions, and then wait.
Years later, businesses discover those solutions, and incorporate them into their products and services. Normally a wide variety of businesses and industries will adopt a remedy, and customize it for their particular needs. However, they may be still obligated to pay the patent holder from the solution. The patent holder profits by owning the perfect solution is well before it really is widely adopted.
Invent, Sell, License
Other inventors would rather actively promote the adoption and licensing of the innovations. They know that you will find often multiple viable solutions to an issue, and aim to let the adoption of these solution.
The initial requirement in this strategy is filing that least a provisional patent application. Otherwise, potential licensees can't be sure that you possess the perfect solution is you are selling them. Provisional patent applications are comparatively cheap to file for, and still provide a year of protection for the idea as you explore its commercial viability.
The following requirement in actively licensing your invention would be to create a viable solution which will save the licensing party money, even when additionally they pay out. Actively licensed ideas have typically moved past the idea stage, and can include prototypes and test data. Your licensee must be able to see the way to quickly and profitably adopt your invention.
Finally, to profit from your licensing deal, you'll need a realistic valuation from the economic good thing about your invention. With no convincing valuation, businesses are often not wanting to invest in appropriate royalties.