Six classic mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs often make
Are you a first-time entrepreneur? Read on to discover six classic mistakes that you need to avoid if you want to be successful.
Launching a new business as a first-time founder is tremendously exciting, but also challenging. With no previous entrepreneurial experience to draw from, it’s easy to make missteps when navigating the complexities of getting a venture off the ground.
By understanding common pitfalls many novice entrepreneurs encounter, new founders can avoid making the same mistakes. Here are six to watch out for.
Mistake 1: Poor financial planning and forecasting
Enthusiasm for their big idea often causes new entrepreneurs to gloss over nitty-gritty financial planning in a tough marketplace. They neglect core start-up budgeting questions on burn rate, cash flow, runway projections and ROI goals.
Underfunded ventures quickly run into cashflow issues that could have been predicted through prudent financial planning right from the start. Sadly, for many entrepreneurs this can lead to further financial problems, and even see them facing debt collection.
So, before you get too far down the road with your business idea, take the time to thoroughly project income and costs across multiple scenarios.
Mistake 2: Not investing in professional services
Eager to minimise expenses in the early days, first-time founders often hesitate to invest in outside expertise like legal, accounting and HR. However, skimping on professional services frequently backfires due to costly errors or a lack of proper structures.
Experienced advisors provide invaluable early guidance on optimally setting up and protecting your company. Their fees pale in comparison to the headaches avoided.
Mistake 3: Doing too much yourself as a solo founder
Solo founders often take on every task from product development to marketing to admin themselves initially. While this is sometimes unavoidable, spreading yourself too thin as an early-stage solo founder leads to burnout and a lack of focus.
Prioritise where you add the most value. Outsource or automate other tasks until you can afford to hire help. Moving all the needles a little is less effective than moving one or two needles a lot. Avoid wearing too many hats for too long.
Mistake 4: Forgetting about tax credits
Entrepreneurs focused eagerly on launching sometimes overlook available tax credits and grants that could significantly benefit new ventures. Programmes like the Enterprise Investment Scheme, R&D Tax Credits and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme are expressly designed to help start-ups raise funds, reduce income tax, and incentivise investment.
But founders must proactively identify and apply for relevant schemes – the support won’t come to you! Don’t leave potential funding and savings on the table. If you’ve got any questions about how to invest in R&D tax credits to fuel your business’ innovation, get in touch with the team at Buzzacott. They work with businesses to ensure that they get the specific support they need.
Mistake 5: Launching without insurance protection
Pre-launch enthusiasm means some founders neglect safety nets like business insurance that minimises risks from unforeseen events. Liability, property damage, inventory and key person insurance are essential backstops for unpredictable circumstances that could derail a young company.
Take time to understand coverage options, get quotes and sign policies so your start-up has buffers if the worst happens. Don’t cut corners on protection.
Mistake 6: Not investing in ongoing education
It’s easy as a new founder to get caught up purely in execution mode. However, neglecting to continually learn and evolve your start-up skills and understand issues like sustainability leads to avoidable stumbles. Set aside time and budget regularly for reading, courses, events, and conferences to keep accelerating your entrepreneurial abilities, networks and thinking. Be a lifelong learner.
By dodging classic pitfalls that snare many first-timers, new founders set themselves up for the greatest chance of success. Of course, every business launch involves missteps and learning on the go. But by foreseeing common mistakes and having the resilience to recover, the journey gets significantly smoother.
