Bath Lives - Dan Fallon

Dan Fallon chatted to TGtB about how he first got started in business and why you should give it a go too. Dan is the Managing Director of Search Star; one of the top 10 independent PPC agencies in the UK, Dan and his team provide a no-nonsense approach to efficient and effective Pay-Per-Click advertising.

Where is home and why?

I live up in beautiful Combe Down. When I first came to Bath over 10 years ago I ended up renting a flat there whilst I looked around for a property of my own. I loved the area so much that I bought a house metres away from my apartment. 

What inspired you to set up your business here?

I was living here and started the business with an office in a spare bedroom. My first employee (the fabulous Nettie Wells) also lived in Bath. We’ve always considered ourselves fortunate to be here.

What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same?

Do it! If starting a business is something that you want to do, take the leap - You're unlikely to ever regret it.

What do you think attracts business people to Bath?

The quality of life and great transport links to London.

How do you like to spend your time off?

Weekends are family time. I'll hang out with the kids at home or go cycling around the hills. Week nights after work are a totally different scenario though, it's drinks at Graze or a couple of pints in the beer garden of the White Hart in Widcombe.

Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?

I know a couple of billionaires at Google.

Your 2pm meeting has been cancelled, meaning you now have a two-hour lunch break. What do you do?

The truthful answer is probably head back to work and catch up on emails and client calls. But the fantasy answer would be to spend some quality time pottering about in the shops…my favourite being 'Uber' - Bath’s leading (and only) Austrian clothes shop.

Describe Bath in three words...

Happy, beautiful & bourgeois.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

Creating a business that keeps myself & my team prosperously employed whilst not working ridiculous hours.

What’s your favourite thing about Bath?

The views of the hills around.