Unauthorized Guide To Doing Business the Duncan Bannatyne Way: 10 Secrets of the Rags to Riches Dragon

Duncan Bannatyne OBE is worth [£320million] and sits at 167th in The Sunday Times Rich List. One of the UK’s most successful serial entrepreneurs with a portfolio of leisure businesses and a high profile media career, Duncan is one of the most popular Dragons in the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. His portfolio of Businesses includes the 61 Health Clubs by his name, the hotels and the residential property company. Duncan was awarded an OBE in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to charity.
Duncan Bannatyne started life in a two-up, two-down in Clydebank near Glasgow. His rise to become a multimillionaire is a true rags to riches story – taking in a stint at the Navy along the way.

His first entrepreneurial venture was Duncan's Super Ices in the North East of England. It expanded from a single ice cream van to a small fleet. Since then his business interests have progressed to include nursing homes, children's nurseries and radio stations. He set up Bannatyne Fitness in 1997 and has grown the company to become the largest independent health club operator in the UK. So how did he do it and does he really believe in the title of his autobiography ‘Anyone Can Do It’?

Chapter 1: From the Navy to multi-business tycoon – what makes an entrepreneur.

Chapter 2: Can Anyone do it? Can tycoons be made or are they born? Duncan’s recipe for success.

Chapter 3: The Right Idea: how do you turn it into reality?

Chapter 4: So many business ideas – so little time! From hotels and fitness to nurseries and radio stations how do you make them all successful?

Chapter 5: Commitment and Dedication – the most important two words in business.

Chapter 6: 99’s or fitness centres - keep the customers coming back for more.

Chapter 7: Careful nurturing is the way to grow businesses.

Chapter 8: The biggest fitness business in the UK – is biggest always best?

Chapter 9: Into the Dragon’s Den: the importance of Media Profile – help or hindrance?

Chapter 10: Charity Worker and business angel – why it’s important to give something back.




Acknowledgements.
The Life and Times of Duncan Bannatyne.

One: Anyone Can Do It.

…As long as you're determined, work hard and take responsibility for your company.

Two: Know Yourself and Fill in the Gaps.

Do your SWOT test and build your business around your strengths. Employ people with the skills and attributes you’re lacking.

Three: The Right Ideas Are Everywhere You Look.

Take the Government’s shilling and build businesses the Government’s paying for; there are advantages to red tape. Change brings opportunity to quick-thinking, fl exible entrepreneurs.

Four: Don't Skimp on the Research.

From ice cream to hotels and fi tness centres, children's nurseries and radio stations – if you do your research right, you can make them all successful.

Five: Plan Your Enterprise.

From the back of the fag packet calculation to the big picture – plan, plan, plan.

Six: Never Mind the Atrium!

It's all about location, location, location. Build in the right place and use all your space eff ectively.

Seven: Have the Right People by Your Side.

Employ the right people – they’re your key to success. Pay bonuses, train good staff and promote internally, but above all – learn to delegate.

Eight: Make Money, Expand Rapidly, Then Make More Money.

A lot of nurturing and even more debt grows businesses. Borrow and make more money. Check out the competition and buy them out. Invest in other business ideas.

Nine: Put Your Name Over the Door.

It's your name on the line and you can't aff ord to get it wrong. Your brand and reputation keep the customers coming back, whether it’s 99s or fi tness centres.

Ten: Give It All Away Before You Die.

Charity work and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Duncan Bannatyne and BBC's Dragons' Den.

Recession? What Recession?

The Last Word.

Notes.

Reading List.

Index.