Pay off student loan or open LLC and file for a utility patent?

[Oxana Loseva]

Hello, I have a question of what is the best financial strategy. 

In Jan 2024 I will have $17k in savings. And I can use it to pay off $14k in Sallie Mae loan. I have more loans than that, but this one is the highest monthly payment from my private loans. I make roughly $5k a month after taxes. And my expenses (including federal and private loans) add up to be about $4700 a month, leaving me with $300 that I can put away in savings. If I pay off Sallie Mae, I will have $650 left to put away in savings each month. 

I have an idea for a board game to sell and in the future to turn into a digital product. If I choose to file for an LLC and a utility patent, it will cost me about $4500. I've tested the idea and there is a market for it and it could be a successful venture.

I can't pay off Sallie Mae and file for LLC and patent at once in Jan of 2024. And if I file for an LLC and patent, I will be living with $300 left every month to put into savings. I'm worried that it is too little and if some big expense comes up, I won't be able to cover it.

I also paid off my car. But in about a year and a half or two years, I’ll have to buy a new one because mine is approaching 100,000 miles. That’s an additional monthly payment which will probably be 300-400$

So, my question is - should I use my $17k in savings in Jan 2024 to file for an LLC and utility patent and bring the game to market. But that will leave me with $300 a month in savings? But with about $10k left in savings overall. Or should I pay off Sallie Mae and have $3k left in savings. But get $650 a month in savings after paying off SM and rebuild my savings and then file for an LLC and patent in 2025 or 2026?