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In order to succeed small-to-medium businesses small and medium-sized businesses must collaborate with businesses around them, a recent study from BT Business found.
Innovative ideas are also important for a business to succeed in the modern marketplace, the survey found.
The research carried out an in-depth comparison of two thriving companies - Bodyshop and Last FM - to one that has failed, the grocery delivery service Webvan.
Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business, said: "With so much entrepreneurial talent in the UK, many people are looking to start up their own businesses.
"Alongside having great ideas, businesses need a support team to help them concentrate on what they do best."
The BT study found that Webvan, which went bankrupt in 2001, overspent on infrastructure and failed to collaborate with existing supermarkets.
Many businesses regard independence as an important feature, but they must learn to cooperate with each other to survive, the report suggested.
Recently BT unveiled its new electronic signature service which specifically targets small and medium-sized businesses
