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    Diamond Member tec0's Avatar
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    Five things you must consider when starting a business.

    This is a short post on what must be done and what must not be done, when it comes to starting a new business. I found myself in this situation time and again and realized why "some people" will keep on failing at business.

    First and foremost do your own research on the product and determine if it is short term or long term. This is very important to calculate sustainability and future competition and or if the supplier is giving you a good deal or not. It will also communicate if you are able to do rebate, carry parts and stock and other responsibilities warrantee/guarantee to keep the consumer council of your back.

    Second aspect is the financial burden, this connects to the first step in a strong way. Buying stock is but one aspect, storing and distribution will also carry cost and with it responsibility towards the product. All of us have seen a damage box sitting on the discount table right? That is a avoidable loss to begin with. Shelf-life is also a major aspect when buying the product, if it is short term especially, it would be worth noting how fast a product goes "if that is a constant or not" how long it will take to restock said product.

    Thirdly, is getting the word out, simply having a product doesn't mean someone is going to magically find you. This is why systems like social media, internet, local radio and general advertisement is so important. It also locks into the second and first step. On your research it is important to know how you found your information and how easy or hard it was. It will also give you a good marketing strategy as to how to go about listing the product and it's information and how to draw the customer your way. It connects to the second step as well as you need to add the financial requirement for said advertisement.

    Forth step is probably the most important step as this is the actual introduction between you and your supplier and the introduction between you and your customer. If you took the time to do step one properly you can show both interest in the product and knowledge of the product. The supplier agreement is an absolute must have and needs to accommodate your needs as well as their own. A strong agreement allows you to deliver to the customer, and handle returns from the customer and above all is able to minimize your cost in returns "where in if possible". Be strict on damage products and don't give your customer "something old" when they are paying you good money.

    The biggest most important step is the fifth step! Don't involve people against their will like pushing your idea down on family/friends and expect them to pick up responsibility and become the primary driver of the business. A lot of new businesses have this and simply kills any chance it had. Identify responsibility and only reach out to someone if that someone is willing and able to accept responsibility. If you cannot accept responsibility it doesn't matter how much money is backing you, you will fail if not in the short them then in the long term because responsibility starts with YOU as the OWNER. Not the friend or family.

    I have seen 41 businesses fail "to date" where the main responsible person FAILED to do these seemingly simple steps.

    Yes there is much of that I have missed but I am sure each of us knows a few people that made these types of mistakes.

    Please feel free to add to the list.
    peace is a state of mind
    Disclaimer: everything written by me can be considered as fictional.

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    Rory (12-Sep-15)

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    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
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    The most important thing when starting a business is money. Without cash you will never get off the ground. Calculate what you need and multiply by 10. Your estimates will never be correct as it may take months before you make your first sale. In the meantime you have to pay suppliers, rent, telephone, wages/salaries etc.

    Once the money runs out, you are stuck!
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

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    Well, I agree that the number one reason for business failure is a lack of money, but you also run the risk of throwing good money after a bad idea and in having more cash available it simply means you will lose more in the end.

    If you are getting into a business which you want to pay your salary with from month one, then yes you are going to need a lot of cash.
    If you want to set up a new business with all the bells and whistles of an established firm in order to create credibility then yes you will need a lot of cash.
    If you intend on going into certain types of business such as traditional retail then yes you will need a lot of cash.

    But it is quite possible to start a business without much cash. Rent and salaries, for example should not be a consideration for a new small business. It does limit initial growth, but "boot strapping" is still viable.

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    Full Member GertH's Avatar
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    Great write-up tec0, thanks! I strongly agree with your third step, it's incredibly important to market your product / service, without customers you might as well close your doors. Your marketing can also be the deciding factor of how well your business scales and grows, yet again, an imoprtant factor for any business

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    tec0 (04-Nov-15)

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    Great idea, not involving people against their will.

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    The step(s) that everybody seem to miss, except of course the prospective financier is this:

    1. Do your numbers make sense

    Even a mediocre financial person is able to see by looking at the numbers whether you understand what it takes to run a business. Most start up businesspeople do not realize that financial people are able to read numbers and get a picture of the overall mindset of the author. If you fail this part then you are doomed.


    2. Do you fully understand what you are busy with.

    Ok, so lets say you have a great financial mind and you've convinced the financier that you understand the numbers now comes the tricky part. Are you able to answer various questions off the top of your head; how big is the market, who are your customers, woh are your competitors, how are you going to make money in the industry, do you have industry experience and and and...if you are unable to answer any of the questions off the top of your head then you don't know your stuff. Industry experience; financiers hardly ever back people with no industry specific experience. That fact that you are a brilliant woven basket salesmen does not make you a brilliant yoyo salesman if you have never been active in the industry.

    You need to understand that financiers back people who have already put their nuts on the line to learn the industry and are looking to expand their output though investment....but here is the catch, every single investor is going to ask "What's in it for me". Entrepreneurs are of the mistaken belief that people will invest money in their new en devour simply because they have nothing better to do with their money, it doesn't work that way. The investor can leave his money in the bank and get a fairly risk free return. The question that you need to ask yourself is can you give your investor his cash back with more interest than he can get by simply leaving his money in the bank. If the answer is yes then you need to be able to quantify the associated risk, and of course the bigger the risk the bigger reward the investor will want.

    I am of the opinion that each and every entrepreneur needs to look at his own business in the same critical way that an investor would. If you are unable to convince yourself that you should put your balls on the line for your business then you will never convince a financier.

    At the end of the day the only thing that really matters are the numbers. Know your numbers and you are halfway there.

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    One of the most important aspects of starting a business is knowing your customer and what they need, also showing them what they need in the future.

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    25 years ago, on the 15 feb I decided to take the step. 25 years ago the fail rate within the first 5 years was 50 % .

    The bank requested some documentation to show them i had done my homework and had all the figures worked out. 25 years later i still not produced this piece of paper. I have overdrafts on all my cheque accounts. I was offered R 100 000 facilty on my credit card.

    I had done absolutely no customer research.

    I bought a golf and a 6 ft ladder.

    Trust me when i tell you it hasnt been as easy journey. I have made more mistakes than i would like to remember.

    My goal 25 years ago, was to just last 5 years. The business just kept growing and growing.

    All you need in life and business is will power. If you want it bad enough you will go and get it no matter what it takes.

    Cash flow is king. A R100 million contract is worth nothing until it is in your bank account. No matter how big or small your business,all it takes is 2 or 3 bad customers and you fall faster than rand after a budget speech.
    Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.

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    Another danger for small business. These People who get contracts then look for others to complete the contract. Be Careful out there, i have been approached twice and turned them both down.

    Big estate developments another quick way to go bankrupt

    All that counts at the end of the day is cash flow. Cash is king.
    Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.

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    Starting a business is not easy. The posts below has valuable information for the budding entrepreneur. One of the most important elements are to have a passion for your business, but this can also be your downfall if not considering the facts and wanting to push through regardless what you believe in.
    It also does not help to start a business and then keep it a secret. I have learnt this from the foremost marketing guru, Peter Drucker:
    "Because the PURPOSE of a business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two - and only two basic functions:
    Marketing and Innovation.

    Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing is the distinguishing, unique function of the business."
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

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