Better to Steal Well Than Think Badly Yourself? - Business Ideas from Overseas
Hanifmr.com - As a business start-up, you are of course looking for a promising idea.
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| Photo by freestocks on Unsplash |
Many fall back on their ideas, but it is also often the case that an existing business is copied. After all, you want to be able to make a living from it, become successful and minimize the risk.
The following article tries to find out whether it is a good idea to copy an existing business or whether you should have a new idea.
There are also tips on how to get inspiration from existing business ideas.
Better to Steal Well Than Think Badly Yourself?
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| Better to Steal Well Than Think Badly Yourself? - Business Ideas from Overseas |
I can still remember listening to a programmer in a private conversation. She worked for a well-known German online startup, which is no longer on the market.
She was very frank about how the startup came about back then. Not only was the business idea of a US startup adopted 1: 1, but website code was even adopted.
This little anecdote is certainly not an isolated incident. This is what many online startups do in Germany in particular. If something in the USA becomes successful or at least shows potential, the idea is simply stolen and a German copy is made.
In principle, this is not a problem either, because ideas in themselves are not protected. However, it is often not an automatic guarantee of success and if the content, code, or the like is then taken over, there can also be trouble.
This article is about how useful it is to only look to America or successful websites and copy them.
Who Has New Ideas?
If you are honest, most new businesses online or offline are copies. If someone goes self-employed as a web designer, programmer, or shop owner, then this is rarely really a new business idea.
It also makes perfect sense. Existing companies have shown that a business idea works and that there is a market. That is why it is often worth entering this market and competing with the existing company.
Many founders are desperately looking for new ideas, but very rarely are the ideas new.
Business Ideas from Overseas
On the internet, in particular, many German startups take inspiration from the USA. The US seems to be a few years ahead of the old world in many areas and therefore there are many new creative startups more likely to be in the United States.
Not that there aren't copycats in the US. There are plenty of them there too. However, when looking at German online startups, you have to search a lot longer before you find a new idea.
Are there no such creative minds in Germany? Is there a lack of willingness to take risks here? Or are German founders simply smarter?
Pros and Cons of Copycats
Copying an existing business idea has advantages and disadvantages:
The benefits include the following points, among others:
- Copying a US business idea often means launching something new in Germany.
- You can already see whether a business idea is working, which of course reduces the risk.
- The costs for development and testing are significantly lower if you “orient yourself” on the template.
- You can get to the market quickly and you can also benefit from the trend from the USA.
- Investors like security and if a business idea is already working successfully, it is often easier to invest.
But there are also disadvantages:
- Ideas as such are not protected, but business processes and the like are often copied as well. And there can be patents and copyrights on it.
- Established companies are often copied. It is difficult to be successful as a newcomer because whoever can use the original does not usually need a cheap copy.
- Copycats often have no creative people who can further develop the offer individually.
Copying an idea has advantages, and it also entails risks and disadvantages.
Tips on the “Right” Way to Steal Ideas
Even if one or the other may not believe it, copycats can be quite successful.
In Germany in particular, some bustling incubators specialize in copycats and are doing well with them.
But even as a small startup, you should consider a few things:
- You shouldn't just blindly copy an existing startup. Instead, one should analyze why this is successful and what does not work so well. No idea is perfect or works anywhere in the world.
- That's why you shouldn't copy a startup 1: 1. Anyone who does this offers no real advantages and unique selling points. In addition, this puts you at greater risk of getting into trouble with the original.
- As a copycat, you should also build on the existing business idea and improve it. There is always something to improve, to adapt to regional requirements, etc.
- Trademark rights and other legal issues should be clarified before getting started.
In addition, not every startup is suitable as a blueprint.
Among other things, online startups are suitable that:
- are not yet active in Germany.
- are generally more regionally oriented.
- address a regional target group and therefore have to be adapted anyway.
- pursue a B2B business model, as these can often be localized better.
- already need in Germany that has not yet been (sufficiently) satisfied.
Conclusion
Copycats do not have a particularly good reputation and still represent the majority of start-ups and startups.
Many examples show that you can be quite successful with this, but there are also a few things that you should be aware of.
This topic also applies to blogs and normal websites, by the way. Here, too, unfortunately, much only copy 1: 1 instead of being inspired and developing the idea into something independent.
Your Opinion
How do you see the situation with the copycats? Is that a promising strategy or should you rather look for a new idea?
Business ideas - would you rather steal well than think badly yourself?
- Copying well is half the battle. (57%, 79 votes)
- A new idea of your own is better. (36%, 50 votes)
- No hints. (7%, 9 votes)
Number of participants: 138 (1 vote)
Click here to evaluate the survey.
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