Creating a marketable solution is only the first step of creating a business. You need to incorporate several factors to ensure your business is successful. With the troubling fact that 90% of startups fail in the first year, it seems your success story is a far cry from reality. However, you can be a part of businesses excelling by taking various steps. One of them is learning from the mistakes of businesses that have failed. Here are some mistakes to avoid when setting up your new business.
1. Undermining the importance of a business plan
Your business plan is important, especially when setting up a new business. It acts as a guide highlighting your business’s objectives, strategy, target market, and so on. As the saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” Without your business plan, you have no clear idea of what to expect from your business. Not only would the business plan guide you through the lifespan of your business, but it also helps you test the feasibility of your business before you launch. You can also secure funding through a well-written business as it would properly explain the various elements of your business and attract them to invest.
2. Ignoring the financial aspect of your business
As a business owner, you have the task of making several decisions. This can be overwhelming, causing many new business owners to make several avoidable mistakes, especially concerning finances. When starting your business, it is important to know your financial status. Ignoring it could cause drastic financial problems for you. For instance, you may make purchases your business is not ready for, causing debt issues. Over and underpricing is also a common mistake many startups make. These practices affect your revenue and may cause its eventual collapse.
Knowing the various procedures to take is also important. Assuming your business is facing dire financial issues, the idea of filing bankruptcy seems to be your only option. It is advisable to consult a bankruptcy law firm to receive advice on whether this is a good decision and what steps to take to ensure you carry out the process properly.
3. Not knowing enough about your target market
Naturally, your business would be unable to function without clients. This is why market research is important. When done effectively, market research helps you understand your target clients better. You gain more information about the spending habits, preferences, demographics, and even which marketing strategies would attract them. Despite its benefits, several startups neglect to conduct market research or do so half-heartedly. This has led to their failure.
Before launching your business, take the time to test your products and services. You can do this through surveys, product sampling sessions, or focus groups. This would give you an idea of what your potential customers would like, areas you would change, and so much more.
You may encounter several challenges in your journey to starting your business. However, knowing which mistakes to avoid can put your business on the right path to success.
Infographic created by
Clover, a POS system
company