I have an idea for a business. I know who I need to ask to find out if it would be something they’d be intersted in as customers, but I don’t want someone better connected than me to turn around and go, “gee what a great idea”, set it up lickety split, and leave me with zilch.
I’m not inventing anything new, so it doesn’t seem like something I could patent or copyright. It’s basically setting up a convenience where none currently exists.
You can have people that you initially talk to sign a Confidential Disclosure Agreement. Then if they steal your ideas you might have some legal recourse. Also, try to only talk with people you trust. But in the end, if you have a successful idea I’ll be very surprised if you don’t have some imitators. Try to do a better job than them.
If someone can ‘set it up lickety split’, then that could happen as soon as you open for business anyway. Useful advice is more important at this stage than a few weeks head start on the competition.
Most people seriously overestimate the worth of an idea, and automatically assume it doesn’t exist because no one else has ever thought of it. Ideas are worth nothing. It’s the execution that counts. Everyone who has ever had a shower has had these ideas. How you follow through will determine your success.