protecting a business idea

[VEX]

I have a business idea which I think has good legs, but it needs support from commercial property owners.

What it the best way to protect the idea when I go out to pitch it?

NDA? Register Company?

Help and direction greatly received.

V.

[evo801]

NDA for sure, make sure they have signed a copy and sent back a copy before you meet.

[StevieBee]

NDAs offer some protection but you need to pay a Solicitor to get a water-tight one. There are many you can download for free but most aren't worth toffee as they are way too generic in their terminology.

There's also the issue of barriers being put up at the outset. Whilst you could say that if they are genuine, then they wouldn't mind signing, you can also say they may be annoyed at your assumption that they will rip you off.

At the end of the day, you cannot tell nothing to nobody, ever and gut feel counts for an awful lot.

Something that we do when presenting ideas is to put a copy of those ideas into a tamper-proof envelope along with a copy of that day's Times newspaper and send it to ourselves, registered post or to our solicitors. The envelope remains unopened. Never had cause to open one yet.