Running a business, while rewarding, isn’t easy. Entrepreneurship is inherently risky, and 20% of small businesses fail within the first year. 50% fail within five years, and only 33% of companies make it ten years or longer. To safeguard your business, it’s important to know exactly why small businesses fail and how you can avoid it.
- Lack of capital funding. Let’s face it. Having a business requires money. The best-case scenario is for the business owner to be intimately aware of how much it costs to keep the operation running from day-to-day. However, some business owners are less in tune with how much revenue is generated, and this disconnect can lead to failure.
- Bad management. Another common reason why small businesses fail is because they don’t have the right management. The business owner is often the senior-level person in small businesses. While the owner may have the skills necessary to create and sell great products, they may not be right for the role of manager. A strong management team is key to keeping a business up and running smoothly.
- A subpar business model. Finally, many small businesses overlook the importance of planning. A solid business plan should include a description of the company, current and future employee needs, capital needs, a marketing plan, and competitor analysis. Entrepreneurs should have an understanding of the industry that they are entering before starting their company. Having an incomplete plan is one of the main reasons why small businesses fail.
With over 50% of businesses failing within the first ten years, it’s important to do everything you can to prevent your business from falling into this trap. The most common reasons why small businesses fail are because they lack the necessary funding, their mismanaged, or they don’t have a solid business model to sustain them for the long run. If you have been wondering how to start your small business and set it up for success, give us a call and we can help!
