[Question] Business Problem Areas

[AmithS]

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to know from everyone, what area of your business gives you the most problems to manage, the area I am talking about is the ones that make you feel worse than you do on a Monday morning if you get what I am saying... Its that area, that you wish you never had to deal with and without it would make doing business a pleasure...

Let me know you thoughts... and why is that area such a problem for you...

Thanks everyone!

Looking forward to hearing from everyone

[adrianh]

Staff

[Perform Computers]

Cold calling.

[IanF]

Parking outside my shop.

[BusFact]

Staff

[Dave A]

I'd say bad staff rather than just staff. Most of my staff are an absolute pleasure, but getting rid of bad apples sure is a PITA given the LRA. I really wish it was as simple as saying "hey, this isn't working. You don't want to be here / You're not performing up to standard / You're a round peg in a square hole. Let's do both of us a favour and ease you out of here so that you can find somewhere that's more suited to you."

But frankly, that's not the problem that bugs me most. My number one problem I dislike the most is getting debtors to pay on time. Again, many are a pleasure, but the one's that play up... oh boy! Not much fun.

[mother]

I spend too much time "working" and not enough time "thinking". I guess it's a common frustration for many small business owners, where the business is self funded, and growth is slow depending on available capital. The business doesn't quite have the cash flow yet to employ staff to specifically do accounting, or HR, or marketing, or whatever, and so the owner wears all those hats every day. It kills me that my only time for strategic thinking and planning and budgeting, is during the odd smoke break.

[AndyD]

I'm pretty lucky with staff, it's taken a long time but I have a very stable team. I would say non-payers / slow payers are my pet hate.

[Blurock]

Unethical business conduct.

I do not mind fair competition. I encourage it because it leads to innovation and improved products.

My gripe is with unethical people who apply real Mafia tactics to hold on to their monopolies. Not willing to give a new entrant to the market a fair opportunity. Uncompetitive and obstructive business behaviour. This happened to one of my clients where a competitor actually approached a supplier and started spreading false rumours via their board members.

The matter ended up in court, but the defamation and blocking tactics have not stopped. Really scary to know that this kind of thing is actually happening!

[wynn]

Working for hours on a quote and then having it shopped to the opposition.

[BusFact]

Eish, this thread is getting depressing. I can relate to all the posts!

[Just Gone]

Bad staff

[RheinhardtP]

Finance department delaying tactics to small business owners, they do not understand these entities require these monies to operate!!!!

[Blurock]

Finance department delaying tactics to small business owners, they do not understand these entities require these monies to operate!!!!

They may also not understand the importance of building good relationships with supply chain partners. Over time you build trust in products, service and conduct. Mutual trust is so important in business, but is often disregarded.

To replace a supply chain partner that has gone under may cause some difficulty for the buyer. He has to source new suppliers, get new quotes, check the credibility of the supplier and quality of the product. Time which could have been spent promoting the business and its products.

I do not want to bore you with too much detail. The bottom line is: By looking after your supplier, you are indirectly looking after your own business.

[Blurock]

Bad staff

You do not get bad staff. Only bad management.