5 Reasons Businesses Fail
There are lots of pitfalls and hurdles to trip over when running a business. These are especially prevalent for new business owners, who should be aware and prepared before they take a leap into the great unknown.
So what kinds of traps do people fall in to? There are several – many more in fact than just 5 (here are 5 more). Sometimes, it can be unavoidable to swerve every oncoming obstacle, but by being a little more in tune with the areas that need addressing certainly would help.
1 – Firstly, write up a business plan. Don’t go into your venture blindfolded. It can save so much time, energy and money further down the road. It will need research and a fair amount of effort, but you will be so glad you did make a plan beforehand. It will give you a clearer overall picture of what to expect and what you want out of your business. In this regard, it is a crucial element.
Image Source – hobvias sudoneighm (CC License)
2 – Not sure you can afford it, but going to go ahead anyway? This is a very risky game plan, because more than 90% of all businesses will not make any money in their first year and many will not get going for a good few years after that. What this all means is that you need to have enough funds to keep you going without imploding for the foreseeable future.
3 – Never get involved in something that you don’t have an interest in or aren’t passionate about. If all you see is an opportunity for making money, then the chances are, you’ll be disappointed and unfulfilled. Those who are most successful are because they are absolutely passionate and driven by their product.
4 – Not bothering with any market research? This could be a fatal error of judgement. Lots of people simply can’t be bothered because it can take time and effort to achieve properly. However, the results can ultimately make or break your business. After all, if you want to make a success of your product, then what better way than gathering feedback from prospective customers?
5 – Lastly, don’t ignore the competition. You should always have one ear to the ground to see what others in your industry are doing. Catching on to the latest trends and not turning stale will see your business continue to flourish.
These five simple rules will see you in good stead for your new business and help to promote a healthy, positive attitude.
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Tags: Business
Andy Dickens
Andy Dickens is a veteran of IT Sales, used to leading by example. He is the CEO of Virtual Sales Limited (VSL) who offer telesales, telemarketing, lead generation and appointment setting services to B2b businesses. He previously was Sales Director EMEA for Red Hat and before that ran sales at Visio before it was acquired by Microsoft.