Q I have discovered that two of my staff in a department of my business are having an "office romance". I am not totally against it, but I have heard that one of them is quite volatile in their relationships and I don't want any extra curricular problems to affect my business.

Should I let nature take its course and maybe let love blossom over the photocopier or should I nip it in the bud and separate them into different departments?

A This is an extremely difficult situation and I have seen it happen many times, in most cases without a detrimental effect. You perhaps should let things take their course. If it starts affecting their work you could separate them. Alternatively, you could talk to them, let them know you know the situation and that you do not expect it to make a difference to their work.

Q A friend of mine wants to invest in my business. He has a considerable amount of capital to bring to the table, which I'm sure will be a welcome boost to the business, but I'm not so sure that it will have a positive effect on our friendship. What do you think?

A I am a great believer in "if you can go it alone then you should do so". The question you need to ask yourself is do you really need the investment? It is always preferable to have control. However, I do appreciate that all businesses need investment if they are to expand. You should be prepared to lose this friendship, as very few friendships survive once they are mixed with business, but you could, of course, be the exception.

Q I have come up with a good idea for a business and have the investment to get it going, but I'm not sure how to promote it. What do you find to be the best way to get your message over to your customers?

A It does, of course, depend what your idea is. We find that leaflet dropping to surrounding areas has worked best for us. Advertising wraps on local newspapers are also very good at promoting your business, but they can be expensive. Good marketing is essential to some businesses, but not so essential to others. You should look at all methods of advertising carefully before deciding, which ones are the best for your business. Remember though, once you get going, there is nothing better than a satisfied customer referral.

Q I have an opportunity to go into business as a franchisee for a recognised company. Do you think this is a good idea or is there more merit in going it alone and building a business from scratch?

A Building a business from scratch is difficult, but in a franchise you are normally marketing a recognised brand with the support of a parent company. Try the franchise route first and you may find a niche in the market. You will also gain a wealth of experience and contacts that will help when setting up your own business in the future.

Published: 21/01/2003