Starting a business from scratch is very hard work and there are times when it can seem like the rewards are not worth it. But if you hit on a winning formula, the payback can set you up for life.

One of the entrepreneurs who took the seed of an idea and built successful businesses over a relatively short period.

Innocent

In 1998 three Cambridge graduates tried out their idea at a London music festival. They bought £500 worth of fruit and sold smoothies all weekend. They asked customers to put their empty bottle in a ‘yes’ bin if they thought they should give up their City jobs. As the ‘yes’ bin was full they resigned the next day.

They named the company ‘Innocent’ because they wanted a product that was ‘pure, fresh and unadulterated’. The company now sells two million smoothies a week to over 7,000 shops and has a turnover of £100 million. Thats the way to do it!