Just supposing you came up with a great business idea but can’t be bothered to put it into practice how could you sell it to someone else?

If we take a simple example of a business plan that I am happy to share as it probably won’t work.

Set up a consultancy that specialises in bribery. Companies such as BAE Systems want to meet a rich and influential prospective customer but it is illegal for them to bribe the right people to arrange the meeting. Instead they pay for £1,000,000 worth of ‘consultancy’ to my company and we ‘research’ a way of meeting that person. My company is based somewhere where bribery is less illegal so I am in the clear, BAE Systems are paying for consultancy so they are in the clear, the people who needed bribing still get their cut of the £1,000,000 so they are happy.

A simple example of a business which I have thought of but I don’t want to run. Now imagine I had come up with a viable business idea but still didn’t want to do it myself, how do I go about selling the idea without the person I am selling it to just taking the idea and not paying me?

I would imagine that you would only sell 80%, to see how people react, if the idea keeping the key element that makes you the special one a bit of a mystery.

If the idea is so simple, I would imagine the minute you set it up it would be pssible to copy and compete with you, unless there is a secret element, and leave you with a less attractive business.

Doesn’t look like you plan to make a profit, more of a charity than a business 🙂

There probably are companies out there doing it already….

NDA is first step but if you can’t be bothered / not particularly interested in running it yourself then you’re unlikely to convince someone else of the merits. Gotta show a bit of passion!

Alternatively there are a multitude of IP exploiting companies out there that will listen. You might also try your local Business Link (who are usually inept IME) who might have an Angel network in your local area.

There is no easy win IMO.

a consultancy that specialises in bribery

I like that idea. 😉

The idea is based on an existing business area but with a couple of significant twists.

I agree other people could copy the idea which is why I am asking how to protect the idea or at least make some money from the first person who does it.

The idea is repeatable across the company but any given region could only really support one or two of this type of business. My original idea was to set up in one area and get the business working before repeating in another area and then franchising across the country.

They I realised I am lazy and can’t be bothered to set it all up, hire staff etc. so thought I would sell it to someone who will do all that.

Dragon’s Den?

Unless you have something tangible to sell it is worth nothing. Therefore an idea is worth nothing.

cb – I can do passion and sell the idea, it is just the day to day running I get bored with. I guess and NDA makes sense. Have you used/world for and IP companies?

Just supposing you came up with a great business idea but can’t be bothered to put it into practice how could you sell it to someone else?

I don’t think you could. Unless your selling the idea to an idiot 🙂

You’ll need someone well versed in handling large amounts of cash in brown envelopes. May I suggest:

or

or

or for extremely large bundles:

so, basically, any former Tory MP or Spurs Manager and you’re laughing 😀

Any idiots want to buy a business idea?

60K up front costs and 4-6K per month returns?

best way is to get it up and running and prove it works then sell it.

or find a ‘business partner’ who gets 50% of the company for doing all the work and you ‘consult’ on setup and business direction.

wwwas – I think you might have the solution. I provide some of the money and my wisdom. They provide the donkey work!

I am asking how to protect the idea

You can’t protect ideas. You can only protect inventions, products, designs etc.

I haven’t looked into the terms, but I suspect that the Bribery Act could be stretched to cover your scenario. If it doesn’t already, I supect that a simple legislative amendment would be rushed through after the press got a whiff of the company (BAE in your example) bribing by the back door.

pixel – The bribery example isn’t the real idea. Just an example of a business idea that I wouldn’t want to pursue myself but would like to make money from

What you need to do is find someone who’s selling a business idea on how to sell business ideas for profit.

I think people have already come up with your idea. It’s called The Houses of Parliament 🙁

You cant really protect an idea.

I’d hazard if your idea was any good you’d actually want to do it. Makes me think its not and that what anyone who you pitched it to would think too.

How much do you want for it, I have a jar of paper clips and half a sausage roll here?

[/quote]“Any idiots want to buy a business idea?

60K up front costs and 4-6K per month returns?”

Is that profit or turnover? Its not going to make anybody rich – your local Angel network will contain a variety of high net worth individuals. Most I suspect would wish you to run with it but there may be some that will take the idea for themselves and use their own people – just call Business Link for an introduction. BL is full of consultants that get paid/rewarded by the number of meetings they have with people like you. Be warned tho that many investment clubs / Angel networks charge you to pitch so as to weed out the many many crackpots out there!

We pitching for cash next week – its taken us 12 months or so to finally start getting the invites!

We pitching for cash next week

To cavemen?

That possible – me not know yet

no one will buy an ‘idea’ unless they’re insane. entrepreneurs have enough of their own ideas that they’re already passionate about.

in my experience you need to get to at least a proof of concept stage.

prove the system works, demonstrate demand and so on.

Is it possible to patent an idea for which the supporting technology does not currently exist, for example a device that would only work if you could come up with a hard enough material or something like that???

4-6K is clear profit. Increases as there are more units deployed

60k upfront you say?
I’ve got a wee bit of a problem, you see? My money, more or less 4.5 million, is tied up in a country now controlled by the army and I’m having difficulty releasing it. If you could Western Union me about 25k, I should be able to send you the 4.5m, you can then take the 6ok plus a little extra for yourself.
We have deal, no? Good deal?

Don – I might need to refer this to my other company which specialises in money transfers. Perhaps we could meet up somewhere, the company is based in Nigeria if that is local for you?

Well whaddya know?

I think your first idea is covered by lobbying firms.

Was there not a dilbert site called something like ‘the lazy entrepreneur’ for this sort of thing?

These boys also have some experience in large amounts of cash in envelopes.

Ooh I like that robe he’s wearing. Looks like a lovely bit of schmutter, that.