A patent gives you the right to stop others from copying, manufacturing, selling, and importing your invention without your permission.
A patent may be enough on its own to stop others from trying to exploit your invention.
A patent gives you the right to take legal action to stop others exploiting your invention and to claim damages.
A patent allows you to sell your invention and all the intellectual property (IP) rights
License the invention to someone else but retain all the IP rights
Discuss the invention with others in order to set up a business based around the invention.
Remember that if you do not patent your invention, anyone can use, make or sell your invention without your permission.