Starting your own business - live webchat with Robert Ashton Weds 20 June 1-2pm

tidymind

I am addicted to Dragons' Den. I love watching people pitching their business ideas and seeing the responses. But it's so scary it's put me off actually trying to do anything myself. Have you got any reassurance - or is it really as tough as that?

I too enjoy watching Dragons Den. Not because it is about typical business starters, but because it is great, entertaining "reality" television. I am convinced that the people selected for the programme are those most likely to boost the viewer figures and not because they are representative of people seeking investment.

Look around your local business community and you'll find there are business angels around who invest in good ideas. I know quite a few of them and they are almost always really nice people and not at all like those fire-breathing dragons.

The fact is that nice people do better in business than aggressive people and that's why most investors are nice people!

scribblegranny

Can you give any tips on establishing and building a brand? What are the key things to bear in mind in terms of creating a positive impression?

To start with, your brand is you. People will buy what you do because of you. So building a brand can mean nothing more than being out and about and consistent in how you describe your business.

The other key point about brand is to give your business and its products names and identities that clearly project what you do and what benefits you bring to your customers.

Well folks, I've really enjoyed 'meeting' you here on gransnet. Brilliant questions and clear evidence that maturity can be a real boost to entrepreneurial ambition!

I'm off now o meet some more interesting people this afternoon,but do follow the link to my website and sign up to my monthly newsletter if you'd like to keep in touch. I'll also keep an eye on this forum and try to answer any questions that leap out and grab my attention.

Good luck!

Hi, sorry I miised you yesterday.

You don;t need to do any legal/compliance stuff before you start selling. Just keep records of income and costs and if things start to grow, do the basics like open a second bank account to keep biz dealings seperate from your own.

I hated Twitter until last Jan - then I made time to explore, understand and become confident.

You can run a biz without using social media- but it's there and it works so why wouldn't you?