Suggest You
#1 in Business Subscribe Email Print

You are here: Home > Business > Small Business > Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)

Tags

  • variety
  • andor
  • bigger
  • reasons which
  • construction equipment
  • owner feels

  • Links

  • Ineffectual Scare Tactics
  • What's in a Face?
  • Deciphering Stress and Anxiety; Relieving Ourselves from the Daily Grind
  • Suggest You - Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)

    It Pays to Advertise - But It Costs
    Just 10 days ago I joined Ezine Articles and set to work composing 10 articles. All of them were published on this site. Today, I received a very complimentary note from the Team at Ezine informing me I had been elevated to Platinum Membership.I feel a tremendous responsibility has been placed on my shoulders to justify the faith of the Ezine Team in granting this rapid promotion and intend taking on the challenge seriously. With this promise in mind I will be offering the best advice I can muster over 40 long years as a shopkeeper.In particular, I would like to address the needs of Small Business; always struggling to keep afloat in a market which gets bigger and bigger, yet with more and more competition.Make no mistake. It's a tough world out there.Small Business is certainly small, but to survive you must THINK BIG! That means adjusting your
    d don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one ba

    We Sell Like We Buy - The Ying and Yang of Sales
    Those of us who work with sales organizations, especially with senior leaders, have an interesting vantage point of the ritual of sales, and how it unfolds in different organizations. From this perch we get to see these people in both “buying” and “selling” mode, and with that it has become very clear that with few exceptions, these leaders and their respective sales organizations sell very much like they buy. This is no surprise as in most cases the nature and character of the whole sales organization is a reflection and extension of the VP of sales. After all they set the tone and direction, forming the foundation on which the culture of the organization is built. This can lead to both positive and negative consequences on their teams’ performance and success.For example, I recently worked with a company that is a leader in their field, a pr
    Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss what she needed to know to start her own florist and landscaping business. She had been in the horticulture industry for 10 years and was incredibly skilled at working with flowers and plants – one of the best. She also had great design skills, as well as good customer service skills. But she had little business management experience and less self-employment experience.

    Discovering why small businesses fail was a smart research project for her, as it helped her uncover her own weaknesses and begin to build up some strengths before she invested in becoming self-employed. It’s no secret that a large majority of small businesses fail in the first five years. The question is: Why do they fail and what can I do to prevent problems in my own business?

    As we talked, we reviewed some of the common reasons why small businesses fail. Here are 14 top reasons, which might help you to determine why your business isn’t growing and thriving. Some of them are related to learnable business skills; others relate to personal attitudes, habits, or self-sabotaging belief, which are not so easy to change, except through coaching or other self-development work.

    1. Mistaking a business for a hobby: Just because you love something doesn’t mean you should convert it into a business. Too often businesses fail because the owner feels their passion is shared by others. Research your business idea and make sure it’s viable.

    2. Poor planning: Yes, you must have a business plan. It can be a simple three-page plan or a huge 40-page plan. The point is that you’ve looked at all the aspects of your business and are prepared to handle problems when they arise. Your business plan helps you to focus on your goals and your vision, as well as setting out plans to accomplishing them. And don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one bas

    Construction Equipment – Buy, Lease or Rent?
    Construction equipment is also known as engineering vehicles. These heavy-duty vehicles are specially designed to carry out construction and engineering tasks.The finance needed for buying construction equipment is arranged through an equipment leasing association. The construction market is buoyed by a boom in the construction business after experiencing a couple of slow years.Only those corporations or smaller businesses who are flush with cash can afford to buy the construction equipment on an outright basis.Renting or leasing is the traditional best option for contractors who do not have large reserves of cash. The contractors who could not afford to buy the construction equipment have these methods as an alternative arrangement. Renting of construction equipment is an option to face a short-term need whereas leasing is the option suitable for long-
    businesses fail was a smart research project for her, as it helped her uncover her own weaknesses and begin to build up some strengths before she invested in becoming self-employed. It’s no secret that a large majority of small businesses fail in the first five years. The question is: Why do they fail and what can I do to prevent problems in my own business?

    As we talked, we reviewed some of the common reasons why small businesses fail. Here are 14 top reasons, which might help you to determine why your business isn’t growing and thriving. Some of them are related to learnable business skills; others relate to personal attitudes, habits, or self-sabotaging belief, which are not so easy to change, except through coaching or other self-development work.

    1. Mistaking a business for a hobby: Just because you love something doesn’t mean you should convert it into a business. Too often businesses fail because the owner feels their passion is shared by others. Research your business idea and make sure it’s viable.

    2. Poor planning: Yes, you must have a business plan. It can be a simple three-page plan or a huge 40-page plan. The point is that you’ve looked at all the aspects of your business and are prepared to handle problems when they arise. Your business plan helps you to focus on your goals and your vision, as well as setting out plans to accomplishing them. And don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one ba

    Beyond The E-Myth
    Michael Gerber's 1988 book, The E-Myth, is recommended reading for all entrepreneurial business owners. If you've not read it or need a review, here is my brief summationThe E-Myth: A SummaryGerber introduces the concept that a business owner wears three hats: The technician, the manager and the entrepreneur. The typical entrepreneur goes into business to pursue their passion doing something he or she is technically competent and comfortable doing. Gerber exposes the entrepreneurial myth that successful growth in an entrepreneurial venture is not so much about the joy of performing the technical tasks that the owner envisioned at start-up . Rather, success is more about the owner's effectiveness wearing and balancing the other two hats of the manager and the entrepreneur.In The E-Myth, Mr. Gerber suggests that successful growth is facilitated
    sons, which might help you to determine why your business isn’t growing and thriving. Some of them are related to learnable business skills; others relate to personal attitudes, habits, or self-sabotaging belief, which are not so easy to change, except through coaching or other self-development work.

    1. Mistaking a business for a hobby: Just because you love something doesn’t mean you should convert it into a business. Too often businesses fail because the owner feels their passion is shared by others. Research your business idea and make sure it’s viable.

    2. Poor planning: Yes, you must have a business plan. It can be a simple three-page plan or a huge 40-page plan. The point is that you’ve looked at all the aspects of your business and are prepared to handle problems when they arise. Your business plan helps you to focus on your goals and your vision, as well as setting out plans to accomplishing them. And don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one ba

    Sales 101: Learn How to Collect Your Money
    Getting paid. Isn't that the ultimate goal from each and every sale? It had better be, or you are in the wrong business! Why are you in the selling profession? It certainly isn't the easiest job. It certainly is not a career for everybody, and everyone is not qualified or capable to be in sales. At the core, we are professionals drawn to the potentially high level of earnings available. There are the scheduling freedoms, the new experiences every day, the self-discipline, the interaction with a variety of people, the networking, the fun and so much more that entices us to be in the selling profession. Typically however, we do not get paid until the customer pays for the goods and services rendered. It is extremely important to make certain that this happens, and in a timely manner.Every salesperson has experienced the agony of having performed her duties flawlessly u
    wner feels their passion is shared by others. Research your business idea and make sure it’s viable.

    2. Poor planning: Yes, you must have a business plan. It can be a simple three-page plan or a huge 40-page plan. The point is that you’ve looked at all the aspects of your business and are prepared to handle problems when they arise. Your business plan helps you to focus on your goals and your vision, as well as setting out plans to accomplishing them. And don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one ba

    The Top 10 Reasons to Attend Business Networking Events
    There are many, many reasons to attend networking events. Here are my Top 10:1. To increase your visibility.Establishing top of mind awareness is critical in any marketing campaign, and make no mistake about it, attending business networking events is a key marketing strategy if done properly. One of the most important elements—and one of the most overlooked—to getting the biggest bang for your networking buck is to make sure your face and your message get in front of the same—and the right—people on an ongoing basis.2. To start relationships that will lead to strategic alliances, joint ventures, and referrals.Contrary to popular belief, very few people walk away from a few hours spent at a business networking event with a fistful of contracts. Meeting people at the networking function is merely the important first step towards reac
    d don’t get mellow – revisit and revise your business plan annually.

    3. Entrepreneurial excitement: Entrepreneurs often get excited about new ideas, but are unable to determine if they’re “true opportunities” and/or put them into practice. Test every new idea against your business plan and mission statement before deciding whether to undertake it or not, and ask yourself, Do I have the time and skill to implement this?

    4. Putting all your eggs in one basket: Too often, small business owners will have just one product, one service or one big client. They cling tight to this one thing because it brings in good revenue. But what if the one thing disappears? Variety and diversification will cushion you against the ebb and flow of business tides.

    5. Poor record keeping and financial controls: Yes, you have to keep financial and business records, you have to review your revenue and expense report each month, and you have to file taxes and other business-related filings. If you don’t know how to do these, or don’t want to, get help from someone who does.

    6. Lack of experience in running a business or in the industry you’re entering: There are so many hats you have to wear, from marketing and selling in order to run a business effectively. On top of that, you have to understand your industry, the skills required to offer your products and services, and the trends in the industry. If you don’t know about these basic skills, educate yourself. Talk to others who are successfully running their own businesses, talk to industry leaders, get a book, find a website, get a coach, do your homework. And keep increasing your business and industry skills by attending classes or reading new books every year.

    7. Poor money management: You need to be able to live for one to two years without income when getting started; often businesses are very slow to get off the ground. Also, you have to create and use a realistic business budget, and not constantly drain the business income on personal spending.

    8. Wrong location: If your business runs out of commercial space, you need to make sure that you are convenient to your customers, and near to your suppliers and your employees.

    9. Competition: Customers will go where they can find the best products and services. It’s important for yo

    HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
    <a href="http://www.suggestyou.com/article/43938/suggestyou-Why-Small-Businesses-Fail-or-Fail-to-Thrive.html">Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)</a>

    BB link (for phorums):
    [url=http://www.suggestyou.com/article/43938/suggestyou-Why-Small-Businesses-Fail-or-Fail-to-Thrive.html]Why Small Businesses Fail (or Fail to Thrive)[/url]

    Related Articles:

    Sending Money Abroad

    Get the Right Partner - Recipe of Offshore Vendor Evaluation

    Sail Past Call Sentries By Volunteering Information

    Bookmark it: del.icio.us digg.com reddit.com netvouz.com google.com yahoo.com technorati.com furl.net bloglines.com socialdust.com ma.gnolia.com newsvine.com slashdot.org simpy.com shadows.com blinklist.com