7 ways entrepreneurs kill their small business

Friday August 18, 2017 , 3 min Read

Being at the head of and running a small business is no cakewalk. Sure, a lot of people think that if a business is small, its operations and work scale aren’t too large, but they couldn't be more wrong. Talk to any entrepreneur who is running a small business, and you'll know that small business ownership is a journey that is both enlightening and overwhelming.

Not many small business owners are aware that there are a number of attributes that could secretly be dragging down the value of their company. Here are the seven most common ways in which entrepreneurs could unknowingly kill their small business ventures.

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Hiring too fast

Several entrepreneurs jump the gun and make the mistake of hiring too many employees too quickly. Instead of waiting and mapping out growth when their business begins to flourish, business founders hire people all too quickly, and this leads to them spending more money than their business is actually bringing in.

Borrowing capital too soon

Instead of working with a small budget at the start of their business, several business owners borrow money from lenders too soon. This lands their business in the red within a few months. Moreover, the more money an entrepreneur borrows, the more interest they are liable to pay back.

Focusing too much on brand image

One of the biggest mistakes small business owners make is spending unnecessary money trying to impress brand investors and clients. If your business is still trying to find its foothold in the industry, it is foolish to try to compete with the bigwigs, as that will only result in you losing too much money too soon.

Weak marketing efforts

When you don't set aside enough money to market your new business, you are bound to face extinction sooner than you think owing to lack of recognition. Regardless of your size, there are always simple and cost-efficient ways to market your business smartly.

Not listening to clients and customers

Sometimes, small business owners think they know what's best for a client and don't pay heed to the client's needs. That's where they go wrong. If you really want your budding business to be a success, you need to learn how to listen and adapt to changing market needs.

Being too aggressive

Sure, you want your business to soar through the sky within no time, but that's no reason for being too aggressive in pursuing your business goals. If you don't take the time to research and think before you take action, you'll be shown the door by your clients sooner than you think.

Not paying attention to your personal life

Yes, your business needs you as it's in the growing stages, but your family and friends need you too. If you become all work and no play, you'll get fed up with your business, and that will spell its doom immediately.

The above mentioned mistakes are serious and established points of risk. Avoid them, and you'll have a healthy business that will expand at a steady rate.

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