It is probably easier than ever to start a business today. In fact, new ones are being started every day – and new ones are failing just as often, too. Even some of those well-known companies are disappearing from sight or downsizing. Before starting a new company, it is important to understand why companies fail. By knowing that, as well as tips for success, failure may be avoided, and greater levels of success may be on the way. Five reasons businesses often fail include:
1. No Business Plan
Many entrepreneurs are of the impression that if they build it, that the customers will come. Unfortunately, that just is not true. Just because something is built does not at all mean that it is going to succeed. The proof of this is that about 80 percent of new businesses will fail within the first 18 months of their existence.
Taking the time necessary to develop a sound business plan provides potential business owners with a much greater understanding of the market. It also enables them to evaluate what it takes for a business to thrive and to put on paper their goals, have a targeted audience, methods of marketing, and finances needed. A well-developed plan will also include an escape route that enables them to shut down the business, if need be, and come out of it without having to go bankrupt or losing their home.
2. Insufficient Capital
If a business plan is developed carefully, an entrepreneur will know what it will cost to operate the business. Besides daily operational costs, there also needs to be additional funds set aside to cover the owner’s daily living expenses while the business is getting started. For most new businesses, it is unrealistic to expect instant success from the moment the doors are opened. At a minimum, there should be enough funds saved and set aside to meet these needs for at least six months. Even better, though, would be to have enough funds saved for nine months to a year. This way, the business owner can devote full time to promoting the fledgling business. An alternative would be to have an additional part-time source of income.
3. Lack of a Clear Marketing Method
Although having a great product is essential to success, it is equally important, even more so, to have an effective way to reach your targeted market. This means you have first identified your target market, and know what triggers their buttons to buy. You will also need to know how and where to reach that audience, and which marketing tools are apt to be the most effective. Online marketing and using social media also needs to be included in your outreach tactics, and a way to sustain them.
Careful records need to be maintained of the results of each marketing campaign and tools used. This way a business owner can discover which methods to focus on, add new ones, and still be able to stay within the marketing budget.
4. Leadership Dysfunction
Entrepreneurs need to be able to know their weaknesses and be honest about them. They can effectively cover their weaknesses by bringing people into the business, either as partners or employees, who can efficiently perform those tasks that the owner is weak in. Owners also need to be willing to unload some tasks on others as money permits so that his or her talents can be used where they are most effective. This can enable others to shine, too, and may make them more interested in staying with you, as well as preventing burnout. Owners who are not good managers should hire someone to do this work for them.
5. Unwillingness to Adjust
A business owner needs to be willing to make adjustments as the business develops. This may mean upgrading products or services, as well as adding new product lines as opportunity presents itself. This can also be a big problem when the clientele changes. If, for instance, your customers start becoming more ethnic, such as having a growing percentage of Spanish-speaking people, you would want to adjust your business, and website. To do that successfully, you may want to obtain specialized Spanish translation services, and take advantage of a professional translation service.
Potential business owners need to invest more time to ensure that they know what it really takes to succeed. This should involve some serious study about successful business tactics, business management, as well as consulting business owners and experts who can help them ensure that their business will still be there five years after they start. In order for your business to reach into the rapidly growing Spanish market, Spanish translation services are available.