The small business panel of experts

A panel of experts on small business answered questions from BBC News Online readers.

Can you grow your company without losing control? How do you motivate your staff? Where can you find grants to get your new business off the ground?

START-UP PITFALLS The key overriding principle is to be thorough and to be prepared; if you are not prepared, be prepared to fail Business Link Steer clear of the classic mistakes

As part of a series on small business, a panel of experts were on hand to answer all of your burning questions, and offered you the benefit of their experience.

To read the answers from each of our experts, click on their photo on the right-hand side.

The panel has now finished taking questions from readers.