According to research done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up to 20% of small businesses fail within their first year.
It can occur for various reasons, such as too much competition, poor customer service, or not enough marketing.
Therefore, if you open a small business there will be a lot of risks. To mitigate those risks you need to be prepared.
Here are four tips for running a successful and profitable small business in Georgia.
4 Tips for Running a Small Business in Georgia
Let’s discuss ways you can run a successful small business.
Create a Business Plan
The purpose of establishing your small business is to convert your passion into a profession. Despite your funds and enthusiasm, your company won’t be successful unless you have a solid business plan.
Therefore, it’s best to have your goals and plans written down. This is an easy way to keep yourself and your employees accountable.
You’ll want to regularly update your business plan so it’s aligned with current goals.
Remember to include your cash-flow analysis, profit-less forecast, and break-even analysis in your business plan as well.
Set Profitability Goals
A successful business has to have the ability to generate enough revenue to continue daily operations. The goal is to re-invest the generated profit for future growth.
To do this you need to keep track of your expenses over a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Then you need to determine how much money you need to make to break even and generate a profit.
Make sure to write all this information down so you can keep tabs on your finances.
Create a Personal Advisory Board
When it comes to launching your start-up, you need people you can trust and turn to for advice.
Create a robust personal advisory board comprising your mentors, fellow entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and family and friends.
Focus on adding people that’ll provide unfiltered, authentic, and solid advice.
Be Creative
Look out for opportunities to enhance your business and make it stand out. Acknowledge the fact that it’s okay to make mistakes, learn, and grow.
Be open to constructive criticism, new ideas, and different approaches to your business’s strategy and marketing plan.
To be successful, you need to stand out and be unique. People appreciate those who are authentic and unique. Let your creativity shine!
What Not to Do When Running a Small Business
Here are several things small businesses should avoid if they want to be successful.
Rush into a Partnership
Here’s the thing: just because someone’s your best friend, significant other, or long-time worker doesn’t mean they’re automatically the ideal candidate for running a business.
The best business partner is someone who has the same vision, mission, and goals as you. However, that person should bring different traits and skills to the table. The more bases covered, the better.
Get Discouraged
Running a small business is a long and bumpy journey.
You’re going to have many ups and downs. You’ll gain fantastic clients and maybe lose your favorite ones. But that’s all part of running and managing a business.
Whenever you feel disappointed or discouraged, focus on being more resilient and reminding yourself why you started your business in the first place.
The Bottom Line
Running a small business is no easy task that’s for sure. However, if you’re determined enough and really put in the effort to make your business unique and desirable, you can do it!
Remember to keep evolving and tweaking your marketing plan, strategy, and target market to effectively expand your business.
Sources
https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/306752
https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/how-to-run-a-business
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp