Keep startup idea a secret?

So I've been working on my startup for the better part of the year. I recently decided to freeze it due to a lack of funds. Through the process of building it, I've hired programmers and explained my idea to probably 4 or 5 of them so that they have a better idea of what to do on the site. I'm no longer hiring them and I'm worried that because I've explained the premise of the site to them, they might take my idea and build it themselves, though I haven't given any single one of them the entire blueprint.

Today I decided to change servers to Network Solutions. They are offering a month of free site support and to even build my site for free. I spoke with a representative for over an hour today explaining my idea to him in order to get a month free of programming help. It seems like such a good opportunity that only a fool would pass it up. However, now I'm wondering if I should've explained my idea to him, even if he is with a professional outfit.

What are your experiences with disclosing your startup ideas and how open are you to people? Is it a mistake to involve anybody outside of my immediate circle in on the project?

I'm starting to think that's not what I want. When I asked what language the programmers use, he said HTML and I was like, huh? I then explained to him how complicated my site is and he said they offer advanced services including PHP and interactive sites. As of now, all they're doing is taking the information I've given them and building a static HTML page.

Luckily I have a 30 day cancellation option, but I'm worried that if these programmers realize where I'm going with the site, they might try to build it themselves.

Ideas are like assholes. What counts is getting a working product to market.

That said, if you are committed to your idea, do what you have to in order to get it off the ground, but don't give away the keys to someone you don't trust. If it were up to me, I would not trust Network Solutions to build my product.

You can build trust by giving those involved a stake in the idea. Make your gains into their gains, and your losses into their losses. The relationship between you and your team should be less "boss/employee" and more "founder/co-founder".

You can't do this with NS. What incentive do they have to build the best product you can build? What stake, beyond your tiny slice of their revenue, do they have? What guarantees do you have that NS will not hold your product hostage in return for lackluster support? These are the questions you should be asking.

I'm curious; are you a developer? I see this type of situation all the time in my field of work, and it's usually large companies taking advantage of entrepreneurs who aren't tech-savvy.

Hi Tadfisher. That puts it in more perspective. NS really has no incentive to make my site shine and, even worse, if the site blows up they might, as you say, take it hostage. I think I'm going to cancel the service before they begin the website. Honestly what really sucked me in was this sales guy on the phone telling me that the best idea for me at my stage while seeking funds is to get the site up so that venture capitalists and angels can find it easier. He made it sound like if I used their service, they would help me find investors. After talking with the consultant, I think that sales guy was just full of shit (as most sales guys are) and was just telling me what he knew I wanted to hear in order to sell his service.

I myself am not a developer, though I'm not entirely ignorant of the technical side. I have developed my idea single-handedly through much trial and error and just want to steer my idea to fruition. I already have the entire blueprint for my site, but I just can't build it myself. What I really need is a service that will build the site, even if they take a stake in the company, like Y Combinator.

And no, I'm not the type of person Ashton Kutcher hates (Mark Zuckerberg wannabes). I seriously have a fully-baked idea that began with the question, what does the world really need. Is Y Combinator my only viable option in your opinion?

NS's offer to build your site is just a gimmick. If you want a couple of html pages of about us, contact us, homepage, etc. it would be fine. But I can't see any startup that can use that type of service to build anything meaningful. I would definitely stop talking to NS immediately.

As for your programmers, NDA would have helped. But also don't lose sleep over it. I am a programmer and have worked with many other programmers. So far, I have not seen one person stealing an idea from a client due to the lack of a NDA. Maybe I just hang with those with moral integrity.