HALF OF BRITISH BUSINESS IDEAS CONCEIVED IN BED

At work, with friends and on the toilet were also ranked highly as some of the best spots for inspiration

Forty-nine per cent of British entrepreneurs had their business idea in bed, claims a new study.

At work, with friends and on the toilet were also ranked highly as some of the best spots for business inspiration. 

The research, undertaken among 500 UK entrepreneurs to mark the launch of a new online service from Business Link for people wanting to start their own businesses, showed that ‘in bed’ was the third most likely place for having that Eureka! moment.

‘Work’ (72 per cent) and ‘while talking to friends’ (57 per cent) ranked first and second as the most likely spots for a business idea to be conceived.

Forty-one per cent of the entrepreneurs surveyed also admitted the toilet was a prime location for coming up with a killer idea - with women more likely to have their idea here than men.

As for the tipping point that made them act on their desire to become their own boss, respondents said that seeing other friends take the leap (34 per cent) was the primary motivation, followed by being made redundant (20 per cent), watching Dragons’ Den (16 per cent), having a baby (12 per cent) and moving house (five per cent).

“While this survey gives an interesting, light-hearted take on the thought process of starting a business, we are very aware it is often a big and serious step to take,” says Ray Lambe, director at Business Link. 

“That’s why Business Link has launched two new online services to help people to start up and grow their businesses.

“Our new Start-Up Service, called My New Business, has been built to help break down the often complex steps of starting a business and guide people through the start-up process to help turn their idea into a reality.

“Amongst other things, My New Business provides potential entrepreneurs with tools that can help them work out whether they can work for themselves, see if they have what it takes to be their own boss, and find links to financial help or expertise they may be entitled to.”

Visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/newservices for more information.