8 common start-up mistakes to avoid

by | Apr 29, 2016 | Entrepreneurship

In order to get to the top in an industry where there are many competitors, you need to be well prepared. Many entrepreneurs who have brilliant business ideas fail to succeed in business because they face complex problems which they don’t know how to resolve. Issues like managing a young business and hiring employees on a budget can be difficult to budding entrepreneurs.  Often the most common start-up mistakes are repeated simply because the entrepreneur doesn’t understand what they are.

Here are 8 common mistakes you need to avoid when starting your business.

  1. Doing everything on your own: There are very few tasks that you can handle alone. The process of marketing, sourcing for funds or dealing with setbacks can be difficult if you are doing it alone. You will need help from friends and colleagues when launching your startup.
  2. Having a lousy business plan: A solid business plan is very important to the business’s success. The plan guides your business in the right direction. It outlines your goals, target customers, competitors, how the company’s success will be measured and most importantly, the direction of the company. Without this, your business doesn’t have any direction.
  3. Poor financial management: Most startups fail because their owners do not know how to handle money properly. They spend too much at the initial stages and end up creating a huge financial mess.
  4. Not having a backup plan: Your original business idea may not amount to much. A good entrepreneur should be able to make changes to suit the needs of an emerging market. Nokia was once a company that made rubber boots.
  5. Targeting a small niche: A good entrepreneur should be able to think outside the box. Do not target a small crowd because you think it is safer. Make modifications to target a large market even if it means going against more competition.
  6. Choosing the wrong location: The location of a business is always very important. Being in the right environments helps you to meet like-minded people and get valuable resources that may help your business grow. For instance, if you are starting a financial consulting company, look for a city where industry experts are based in the same area. It gives you a better opportunity to network.
  7. Poor timing: When launching a startup, it is important to choose proper timing. Consider certain factors such as the economy and natural disaster and how they can affect your new business. Make sure the company doesn’t wait too long to launch.
  8. Hiring too quickly: Recruiting people when the business cannot afford to pay them is a financial disaster waiting to happen. Make sure you budget for any appointments that are made in the company.