Q I have no money, but a brilliant idea. I want to put stand-up comedy shows on in the North-East. I do not want to be tied to an existing comedy club, but establish my own brand, which will be recognisable.

I used to work in a club and have a number of contacts in the business to source the comedians, but not much more than that. Can you help me turn my dream into reality?

A It seems to me that the only comedian here is you. How much thought have you actually put into this idea? All you seem to have is a picture in your mind's eye of Peter Kay entertaining your audience while you laugh all the way to the bank.

At least you seem to have the talent, or at least access to the talent - that is a start. I would suggest you look at a venue; preferably one that already has an entertainment licence. A way around paying for the venue is to do a deal with the owner or landlord where you split the ticket revenue.

The other benefit for them would be to attract people to the venue on a day that might normally be quiet. This would boost their bar profits too. Ticket revenue alone will not make you a fortune, especially in smaller venues, and do not forget the comedians will want paying too. Why not look for a sponsor who can have their branding displayed on posters, tickets and at the venue to help with the costs?

At your first few shows you could have an open mike section to give aspiring comics the chance to perform for free to showcase their talents. This could cut down the number of paid comedians on your bill (excuse the pun). It does not matter what business idea you have, whether it is selling nails or comedy, without the right planning, you will be laughed off stage.

Q I run a small hairdressing business, which has a good client base, but I am having a problem keeping my staff. We are in a very competitive market and I have lost a number of stylists to other salons. What am I doing wrong?

A You have to ask yourself why staff are leaving. Is it the pay, the conditions, or are you employing the wrong people? Without knowing too much about your business, a possibility is that, as a small business keeping your service affordable to customers, you are unable to pay high wages. With some businesses, this usually means hiring young or recently-qualified staff.

A regular problem with employees like these is that they see a business such as yours as a stepping stone or training ground, always looking for the opportunity to move on to a business that requires experienced people and can, as such, pay more money. If you have a young team, you need to make them feel that they are part of something and not just an employee.

Whether you can motivate them through team building or bonus schemes, you can make them believe that what they are doing is benefiting them and the business. It is good to talk about the future and the plans you have with your team so they can see that they have a future with the business.

If your business grows, then their position within the business does likewise as will, hopefully, their wages. Another possibility is to look at older employees or returners to work who prefer a routine in their lives, and if they are happy in their job, they will be happy to stay.

I admire anybody who admits there is a problem with their business and is strong enough to face problems and come up with solutions. This is now your challenge.

Q I can safely say, as a small businessman, I am a success. The business I have built is doing very well and my customers are happy. The problem is I think I have reached that stage where the business needs to grow, but I have always wanted to stay small. I am worried that by growing, I will lose control and not enjoy my firm as I do now. Any suggestions?

A You have to answer the unavoidable question facing a successful small business. In my view, I am afraid the only answer is to grow, and if you do not like it, you might as well walk away now.

The service you have been providing has made your customers happy and returning to you. But what about new customers? You can only turn prospective clients away due to a lack of capacity for so long. The jungle drums of the business world beat very loudly and very soon the message is out there that your business is not the place to go.

You may also face the lifetime of an existing customer coming to an end, such is the cycle of business, and you will have the replace them. The advice is to grow, but grow with the right people around you.

That is how you stay in control. With a good team of managers, accountants and advisors, you can maintain the core reasons you have been successful, but on a bigger scale.

You are in an enviable position that many business owners would like to be in and the future looks good for you, your firm and your employees.

Do not ruin it by thinking small. Always think big, but always be in control.

Q My business is taking me out of the region and sometimes the country more and more often. It has really started to knock me for six and my work and my health is starting to suffer. As a seasoned traveller yourself, can you suggest some tips?

A As a health club owner, you might expect me to say this, but exercise is really important. If you cannot make it to the gym, try a couple of brisk walks a week, whether from home or where you are away working.

It will give you the chance to clear your head and get your circulation going. It is also a good way of visiting new places, rather than just train stations, airports and hotels, which also enhances any trip away. It is all about time management.

Some people can live on the edge, but if this lifestyle is getting to you, try and plan your journey's better, setting aside recuperation and exercise time that has the same priority as your business meetings.

If you sit for long periods, you can have problems with your hamstrings, which shorten when you sit, leading to further problems, such as headaches.

You can eradicate these problems by exercising. I try to avoid coffee, tea, alcohol and fizzy drinks on plane and train journeys, opting for water instead.

On plane journeys, it is the best way to avoid jet lag and, do not forget, it is suggested we drink eight glasses of water a day.

Make sure your clothes are comfortable as well, especially when driving. Why not hang your suit up in the back of the car and travel in loose-fitting clothes - of course, making time to get changed before your meeting.

One of the biggest problems with working away is sleeping. Try to keep your sleep patterns regular and if you are not tired, take a walk before going to bed. If there is the chance to sleep during the day, take it.

And finally, if you are staying in a hotel, choose one with a gym - oh, and avoid the full English breakfast.

Published: 05/10/2004