Launching a business is no easy task. A Herculean effort needs to go into place in determining what goes where and how things can work out positively. As such, you would need to ensure that your business plan is fail proof and does not fall into the landmines that swallow many a business venture. Here are 8 such mistakes that you need to avoid when launching a business lest you don’t want it to taste the success it deserves.
Mistake #1: Not Validating the Idea
A business idea is of no use unless you validate it with the target market and customers. You would need to analyze the market demand before even launching the idea. With demand increases the willingness to pay for your product. So make sure you recognize a valid market for the product and check whether your product meets customer’s needs perfectly before launching your business.
Mistake #2: Not stocking up on the budget
A startup would definitely not stick to the assigned budget. You would find yourself spending more than the allotted budget at certain intervals. So make sure you set aside some money for these sudden expenses. Also note that it would take some time for your business venture to gain recognition and give back profitable returns. Till then, you would end up paying for the production, rent, utilities, salaries, inventory and promotions, etc. So make sure you set aside a good amount of money to handle these expenses until your business starts soaring.
Mistake #3: Not having a solid business plan, including a plan B
Every start up that fails has a botched up business plan behind it. A business plan is extremely important for the success of a business. You need to be very clear on how your business would run and who would handle what in the company.
Everything from the vision, mission and business structure to the compensation policy needs to be clearly defined before launching the business. You would also need to have a Plan B in case Plan A does not work out. Startups are all about facing the inevitable and having a readymade plan to wade through these situations unscathed.
Mistake #4: Trying to run a one man show
Although the idea may be yours, you need a team to make your idea bear fruit. As such, you would need to build a solid team which has similar ideas and goals on how the business needs to grow. This team will work around shared values and would stick by you even in the toughest of times. Therefore, you need to be transparent with them and encourage them to do the same so that everyone knows what is happening at every instance, and works towards achieving common goals.
Mistake #5: Delaying the Launch
Nothing can make a business less trustable than a delayed launch. Announcing a launch and the delaying it will give off the impression that you are still not ready to enter the product. This, in turn, would reduce the trust on your products/services as well. So stick to the launch date, launching with a basic business model and then refining it as you move forward.
Mistake #6: Not responding to feedback
The initial days following the launch are considered to be the most important. It is the period when you need to take in customer feedback and refine your model based on these reviews. This is the only way you can end up with a business that emulates the customer’s needs to perfection.
Mistake #7: Assuming the funder knows everything about your project
Chances are the funder would know A – Z about your product before you even introduce it to him/her. And chances are there he/she may not know anything about what you are about to offer. So don’t make any assumptions and describe your business in detail to every funder and investor that you meet in order to make the best impression at first sight.
Mistake #8: Not giving attention to branding
Everything is defined by branding these days. From products and services to even a toothpick, branding defines an item and its validity effectively. So don’t make the mistake of simply creating a logo for your venture and leaving it at that. Use branding to define your business better and make it reach a wider target audience. This will help boost your business in the long run.
Till then, you would end up paying for the production, rent, utilities, salaries, inventory, and promotions, etc. You may even have to take out a loan. Check out lendingtree reviews to see if they are a good fit for you. So make sure you set aside a good amount of money to handle these expenses until your business starts soaring.
Millions of businesses are launched across the globe every year. If you want your business to be noticed among all these other ventures, make note of these entrepreneurial mistakes and make sure you don’t repeat them in your startup.
