It seems like you’ve listed common mistakes that entrepreneurs and business owners often make when starting or running a business. Let’s briefly discuss each of these points:

  1. Not having a business plan: A business plan outlines your business goals, strategies, and financial projections. It’s essential for guiding your business and securing funding or investments. It also helps to define what’s unique about you and establishes your Mission and Vision.
  2. Not having a marketing plan: A marketing plan helps you reach and engage your target audience effectively. Without one, you may struggle to attract customers. And with out one you are unlikely to properly market your business and bring in business. Even word of mouth takes planning and work.
  3. Impatience: Building a successful business takes time. Impatience can lead to hasty decisions or giving up too soon. It’s important to have realistic expectations. See #1.
  4. Overspending: Careful financial management is crucial. Overspending can deplete your resources, leaving you with financial challenges. Do you really need your logo on everything? Or do you need to invest in good marketing strategies instead or perhaps involving your company in professional and trade organizations.
  5. Underpricing: Pricing your products or services too low can hurt your profitability. It’s important to find a balance between competitive pricing and maintaining healthy profit margins.
  6. Not forming the right business entity: Choosing the right legal structure for your business can impact taxation, liability, and more. Consult with a legal expert to make the best choice.  There are a number of resources to help you set this up. For those in St. Louis City we recommend St. Louis Development Corporation.
  7. Thinking you don’t need insurance: Business insurance can protect you from various risks, including liability and property damage. It’s a wise investment to safeguard your business. You likely need insurance for your office space, but don’t forget cyber attacks, etc.
  8. Not having a written agreement with your business partners: A clear partnership agreement is vital to prevent disputes and misunderstandings. It should outline roles, responsibilities, and dispute resolution mechanisms. This also extends to your overall agreements. Make sure you get the legal support you need to protect your business.
  9. Failing to protect intellectual property: If your business relies on unique intellectual property (such as patents, trademarks, or copyrights), failing to protect it can leave you vulnerable to infringement or theft.  It also is smart to note you can infringe on this too without realizing. Some basics on media law wouldn’t be a bad idea.
  10. Thinking you can do it all yourself: Trying to handle every aspect of your business can lead to burnout and suboptimal results. Delegate tasks when necessary and seek professional advice.  Can’t stress enough the need for seeking professional expertise in the areas you don’t have it. Accounting, Taxes, Legal, Marketing, Business Development, Web Development, Information Technology are all important aspects of a successful business and if ignored is likely to come up at a bad time and cost you more.

Avoiding these mistakes and having a well-thought-out business strategy can significantly increase your chances of success in business.  The additional item I suggest given the SLC3, is to take advantage of the opportunities provided to you. You will always have an excuse not to go or not participate, but reconsider. You may be busy now, but what is your backlog? Are you continuously planting seeds or are you riding a wave?  Are you spending so much time in your business, these points are getting sidelined?  Any business owner will tell you how they crashed and burned on something on this list. They all have regrets and would have done things differently. But learning from them will help to avoid these costly mistakes.

 

Author: Kelly Jackson

Kelly has over 28 years of marketing, business development, and PR experience. She has 12 years of organizational and small business ownership experience. She has served oer 150 clients and currently oversees 200+ member organizations focusing on serving the construction industry in the St. Louis Bi-State region through a mission to focus on four key pillars:  Innovation, Continuing Education, Equity Empowerment and Collaboration.  She has 24 years of experience in the AEC industry in marketing, business development, as a marketing and business consultant, and as the Executive Director of the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers.