Starting An Online Business

[AndyAndy]

Hi

Everyone I’m new here. I don’t have my own business yet, but I’m actively researching and gaining more and more knowledge before I do. Therefore, if I ask a ridiculously stupid question I apologise in advance.

My question is this: theoretically, say I came up with an online business idea, which does not involve selling physical products for example like YouTube or Facebook. How would I go about making this a reality? Now I have two chains of thought.

1) Is to find web developers and make them business partners.
2) Contact a web development company and ask them to build the website (after finding the best price).

Now this is where I am worried. What is stopping the web development company telling you your idea is terrible and then stealing your idea?


At the same time does anyone know a better way to have a website developed alternatively to the two methods I mentioned above?

 

[Alessandra]

If you cant do any programming, &/or SEO then you are totally at the mercy of other people who will charge you a fortune EVERY time you need to do something, & for a startup thats a disaster. One of you needs to be able to do this stuff, or at least some of it unless you have tons of money.

In your position I would try & find a techhie business partner but thats SO risky, ideally you would already know someone first.

 

[virtuallysorted]

My thoughts on this would be that the developers probably see 600 business ideas a week and if they nicked them and leapt into the wild blue yonder with each one of them, they'd not be in business very long!!

My second thought is that you'll be hard pressed to find a web developer who will work in return for equity as they have overheads which they need to pay now, not in 2 years time. After all, how do they know that you'll deliver at marketing and promoting the website once they've built it? They've invested time in building it, what's your investment other than an idea?

 

[Findermonkey]

I agree with Caroline, you can't worry about people pinching your idea if thats all it is. The amount of effort involved with getting any business from an idea to an actual functioning business is so massive that you are safe. As soon as your website goes live everyone will see your idea and if its amazing there will be people who will copy it. Someone has ripped off the FinderMonkey site and is using all our key messages and services, they are a flash in the pan though and will be spending a fortune on Pay Per Click, we on the other hand have spent four years putting effort and time into our business so it is build on solid foundations. Concentrate on your idea.

 

[AndyAndy]

Hey guys

Thanks for your feedback. It was very interesting.

Yes companies probably see countless business ideas weekly, but after seeing the social network I just always think what if a web designer/programmer just took your idea and copied it, especially one that required no tangible products.

I think I should enrol on some web development and programming courses to learn the basics.

FinderMonkey I have just looked at your website, which looks great. Did you build that or did you outsource?

 

[Findermonkey]

Hey guys

Thanks for your feedback. It was very interesting.

Yes companies probably see countless business ideas weekly, but after seeing the social network I just always think what if a web designer/programmer just took your idea and copied it, especially one that required no tangible products.

I think I should enrol on some web development and programming courses to learn the basics.

FinderMonkey I have just looked at your website, which looks great. Did you build that or did you outsource?

We gave away 10% equity share for our first website and the one that is currently live, we have paid our 10% shareholder for the third site that is currently being developed, it worked really well for us but we were lucky as our web developer has been a close friend of the FinderMonkey directors for over 15 years.

 

[Digital Ark]

You could always use the old classic of documenting your idea, putting it in an envelop addressed to yourself, post it and then whe it arrives keep it sealed in a safe place. At least you have a record of the date of your idea. Not ideal but may be a cheap option.

 

[jhardy2008]

I think 2 option is best for you. Hire any established web development company and give your project requirements. And you can do marketing for that project.

 

[tomsmith2010]

I can help you but I need to know what kind of business you are starting and what you need before I can say yes.

 

[AndyAndy]

Thanks for everyones advice, I'm going to sit back and think about it a bit more.

 

[Bes]

You could always use the old classic of documenting your idea, putting it in an envelop addressed to yourself, post it and then whe it arrives keep it sealed in a safe place. At least you have a record of the date of your idea. Not ideal but may be a cheap option.

THIS. DOES. NOT. WORK!

I hate it when people suggest this- it's a totally defunct and useless idea- a bit like an urban myth.

 

[alexlowe]

Surely an NDA is, or could be, part of any contract...

 

[MrMichael]

There's no real harm in using the method in terms of evidencing you created the work in the envelope. The problem is that the protection would only extend to what is in the envelope which would be the copyright in the words used to express the idea.

Consequently there would be no protection for the idea itself.

www.weekendhacker.net may be of interest to the OP also in terms of finding developers willing to give a hand to your project.

 

[Bewdy]

As mentioned, you need an NDA, there are plenty of templates for them on the internet. Download one and amend accordingly.

if you don't know what and NDA is it stands for None Disclosure Agreement. Both parties sign it, before discussing the ideas, if you add some documentation of the idea to the NDA it makes it more water tight. If you're dealing with a developer who still goes off and produces your idea after signing one of these, well basically it's up to you to decide if you want to take legal action, but you're in a much stronger position if you do.

 

[haruki92]

Hi

Everyone I’m new here. I don’t have my own business yet, but I’m actively researching and gaining more and more knowledge before I do. Therefore, if I ask a ridiculously stupid question I apologise in advance.

My question is this: theoretically, say I came up with an online business idea, which does not involve selling physical products for example like YouTube or Facebook. How would I go about making this a reality? Now I have two chains of thought.

1) Is to find web developers and make them business partners.
2) Contact a web development company and ask them to build the website (after finding the best price).

Now this is where I am worried. What is stopping the web development company telling you your idea is terrible and then stealing your idea?


At the same time does anyone know a better way to have a website developed alternatively to the two methods I mentioned above?

Hi Andy,
What i would suggest you is to spend more time on learning the techniques of online marketing,generating traffic to your website rather than learning how to use HTML codes and Web Design.Learning these two alone might take you a lot of time and will hinder your process.Afterall,you could get your website done up by other professional webdesigners by paying a sum of money.I would advise you not to spend money on softwares,etc if you did not earn any money yet.

Hope that helps.

 

[Digital Ark]

AndyAndy,

Before diving in. Take a listen to the Internet Business Mastery podcast. It is free and there is tons of good free advice in their 5 years worth of podcasts. Just look at the titles in itunes for an idea of the ones to listen too.

Likewise get a copy of 4 Hour Work Week (Tim Ferris).

Then if you do want a web design / hosting company to help you along, drop me a mail.

All the best.

Simon

 

[jane p]

if you go to your local chamber of commerce and speak with them they can usually give advice and put you in touch who maybe able to help.

What you say to them at the chamber they say is confidential.