Small Business Truisms
These truisms can help guide you in starting and running your
small business. They represent lessons learned by entrepreneurs
like yourself. The road to success will be much smoother by being
aware of the messages they represent. Most of the truisms are
accompanied with a supporting vignette based on a real business
experience. Many may appear obvious to you ... if so, simply consider
it a reminder!
IT TAKES A LEADER TO SUCCESSFULLY START, RUN, AND GROW A BUSINESS
The difference between managers & leaders is sometimes subtle
but when the going gets tough, it's easy to tell the difference.
While consulting for a large manufacturing company I met with
the founder and owner. It was easy to see he was an excellent
manager and organizer. He had effectively set up his company,
found satisfactory help, and was quickly manufacturing small runs
of high quality product. When he called me, the company was in
trouble ... poor sales, decreasing order backlog, etc. The problem
was determined to be that the market had been slowly moving towards
a similar, more effective product type. In overlooking (or not
being aware of) this fact, the owner, although a good manager,
was not leading the company in a successful direction.
A BUSINESS IS LIKELY TO OPERATE AT A LOSS FOR THE FIRST YEAR
OF OPERATION
Make sure you have adequate resources! Plan for the unexpected. Remember that most businesses fail due to lack of capital! If possible, keep your regular job during startup.
A PERSONAL GUARANTEE WILL MOST LIKELY BE REQUIRED IF YOU BORROW
MONEY FROM A BANK
A personal guarantee is never a problem when you sign it! Think
carefully before personally guaranteeing ANYthing. This may seem
obvious but when under pressure to keep the business going, you
might make a decision that has disastrous long term consequences.
Ted had been in the manufacturing business for about three years
and was doing quite well. During this time he borrowed a number
of times from his bank to purchase materials and capital equipment.
Without warning, his major customer canceled their order and the
business was left with considerable material which had been purchased
for this job. Eventually Ted was forced into bankruptcy, first
Chapter 11, then Chapter 7. Ted has forgotten that he had personally
guaranteed the loans when times were good and now was faced with
having to deal with the bank outside the bankruptcy proceedings.
Business or no business, Ted was solely responsible for the loans.
IN ORDER FOR A BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT MUST PROVIDE A SERVICE OR PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BUY
Pretty obvious you say? Well, it is forgotten by many. Times change
and your business must change with them.
Dave, a good friend and fellow amateur radio operator, started
a radio equipment and accessory retail store. Certainly not new,
since there are hundreds of such stores throughout the country
and, in fact, there were three within 50 miles of Dave's location.
However, in less than a year, he was outselling the other two
stores and had acquired a good share of their former customers.
Why? Dave knew he needed to provide something unique that would
make his store more useful than his competitors. Knowing that
communications was 'going digital' and there was high interest
in combining computers and radio equipment, Dave provided custom
software to marry the customer's computer with the radio equipment
he sold. He's still going strong.
A REALLY GOOD IDEA WILL NOT LAST LONG BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE RUNS
WITH IT
If you are confident of an idea, move off dead center and get
on with it! Plan carefully but get going. If you wait, someone
will beat you to the market!
BUSINESS SUCCESS WILL BE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO HOW MUCH
YOU LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Don't get involved with any business activity for the money only!
This is usually a recipe for failure.
Nancy bought a fast food franchise because the opportunity looked
too good to pass up. It might have been, but Nancy know absolutely
nothing about the food business or the restaurant business, and
as far as I know, didn't even like fast food! Care to guess how
successful the operation was? Or how long it lasted? Care to
guess what happened even though the franchise dealer advertised
that 'all the details are taken care of for you.' Nancy never
had a chance.
THERE IS NO "BEST CHOICE" FOR A BUSINESS STRUCTURE
Incorporating is only one of many options. Get professional advice
and do what is best for your own specific situation. Each situation
will be unique and any advice you receive based on generalizations
might not be best for you.
A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE A GOOD
BUSINESS PARTNER
I believe in partners. It's good to have someone to bounce ideas
off of and to have common goals, but choose a partner for the
right reasons. Make sure the partner supplements your knowledge
and that you share a common commitment. Being good friends is
not enough!
I started a business some time ago with a friend who, like myself,
was an electronics engineer. We were going to design and market
an innovative telecommunications product. The partnership was
a fiasco. First, since we were both design engineers, we argued
forever about the 'best approach' for the design as well as the
design details. After much pain, we got the unit prototyped and
were ready to do some marketing. Of course, neither of us had
the slightest idea of how to market. Finally, we gave up ... another
great idea bites the dust. Why didn't I find a partner who had
expertise in marketing? I knew from day one I had to sell my product!
I also knew that I had the expertise to design the product myself.
So, while friendship is important, what value was my friend as
a partner?
A WELL THOUGHT OUT AND FORMALLY EXECUTED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
IS A MUST FOR A SUCCESSFUL LONG-LASTING PARTNERSHIP
Because many partnerships are formed between individuals who know
one another quite well, this formality is often overlooked. An
agreement is required to address a number of items, including
continuation of the partnership in the event one partner withdraws;
buy/sell provisions; initial contributions; profit/loss division;
partners, compensation; responsibilities. These important elements
must be discussed and agreed to by the partners at the very beginning
of the venture.
PLANNING IS MANDATORY FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. FAIL TO PLAN AND
YOU PLAN TO FAIL
This is the most important truism of them all! Planning is difficult
since there is no immediate feedback as to its value. However,
in order to be ready for the contingencies that are sure to confront
you, planning is essential. You may or may not need a formal business
plan but you do need a strategic plan. This plan, properly formulated,
will define your business mission, your present situation, and
where you want to be in the next few years. You will address assumptions
and risks, goals and objectives and how you will report progress.
A PLAN THAT IS NOT PERIODICALLY REVIEWED IS NEARLY USELESS
You must identify a way of periodically reporting your progress
as it relates to your planning documents. Your business is constantly
changing and your plan must be reviewed and modified accordingly.
The plan must be kept current for you to effectively measure your
performance.
PAY YOURSELF FIRST OR YOU MAY END UP WITH NOTHING FOR YOUR
EFFORTS
Don't make the mistake of putting every dollar of profit back
into your business. Your business may very well prosper for a
number of years and then be plunged into sudden bankruptcy through
no fault of your own. If this happens, and you have not planned
ahead, you may very well have little to show for your hard work.
Remember, YOU are the business ... so pay yourself accordingly.
LACK OF PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OFTEN AND EARLY WILL SURELY CAUSE
PROBLEMS SOONER OR LATER
You are probably not an expert in law, taxes, or insurance matters
... so get advice before making decisions.
YOUR BUSINESS ATTORNEY WILL NOT BE PROACTIVE
Be careful ... most attorneys are trained to solve problems and
may not necessarily understand the business ramifications. They
are generally conservative and may not share your entrepreneurial
qualities.
During an early business venture, I asked my attorney for assistance
in developing a contract form to use with my clients. Well, I
got my form ... all three single-spaced pages of it with a total
or around 30 items. My attorney had attempted to protect me for
every possible contingency but in doing so, generated a document
so onerous that no one would sign it, including my current customers.
I should have given my attorney more direction ... he assumed,
in keeping with his training, that I needed as much protection
as possible. With no customers, I would not need any protection!
AN INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENT IS MOST LIKELY TO PROVIDE UNBIASED
ADVICE
Obvious, but don't forget it when shopping for your insurance.
THE BETTER YOUR BANK KNOWS YOU, THE MORE EXCEPTIONAL THE SERVICE
YOU WILL RECEIVE
Don't jump to a new bank for the wrong reasons. When you really
need help, it is useful to be able to call your banker by his
or her first name.
AN EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR DOES NOT BECOME CONSUMED
BY THE BUSINESS
Separate home and business as much as possible. "Few people
do business well who do nothing else." [Lord Chesterfield]
STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR OBJECTIVES BUT ALSO STRIVE TO STAY BALANCED
LEST YOU LOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY
The rewards of a successful business can be bitter-sweet without
friends and family with whom to share the success.
WITHOUT MARKETING, FAILURE IS GUARANTEED
Remember, sooner or later you are going to lose that single big
customer. You can't spend ALL your efforts supporting him. Spend
some time marketing EVERY day.
Like so many entrepreneurs my first business started with a single
customer. The company was a great customer ... steady and increasing
orders. My company grew to support their increasing requirements.
Suddenly, due to a change in management and corporate realignment,
the orders suddenly stopped (the reason why is of no consequence).
So, through no fault of my own, I lost my major customer. I was
so busy looking after this "big" customer, my marketing
efforts were minimal. A foolhardy mistake. Don't you make the
same one.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER WILL BE, SO TREAT EVERYONE
AS A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER
... and don't you ever forget it!
A CUSTOMER WHOSE CREDIT YOU CHECK WILL ALWAYS BE A GOOD RISK
... DON'T CHECK AND IT WILL BE BAD.
Take the time and save yourself headaches. It is also wise to
remember that D&B information is not checked and may be far
from the truth. You might get better information by checking the
customers business and banking references.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR (EMPLOYEES)
When you hire employees, hire the best you can find. Hire individuals
who are smarter than you are in what they do. You want your employees
to extend your own expertise or perform tasks you cannot perform
yourself. Every employee represents you and your business. Think
about this before you say, "You're hired."
SOONER OR LATER, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, YOU WILL LOSE SOME
OR ALL OF THE DATA STORED IN YOUR COMPUTER
It is very likely you will be using a computer in your business.
Pay attention to this truism and do what nearly everyone forgets.
PERFORM A DAILY BACKUP OF YOUR DATA
Loss of certain data could prove disastrous to your business.
Don't let it happen to you.
NEGOTIATING WILL SAVE YOU MONEY
It is amazing how few people are willing to negotiate a price.
Do it! Negotiate EVERYthing, including services. You will be
amazed at the results. And don't forget barter. It also works.
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LOOKS SUCCESSFUL
An acquaintance started an engine rebuilding business in a small
bay of a warehouse. The location was good in terms of convenience
and delivery of materials but the bay itself was typical. Cinder
block from floor to ceiling, open metal roof girders with hanging
industrial florescent fixtures. Although my friend had an excellent
reputation and was an excellent engine man, the business didn't
do well. We literally turned business around overnight by painting
the entire place brilliant white (including the ceiling and girders),
painting bright graphics on the walls, organizing everything in
the place, and holding an open house. Suddenly it was the place
to go for engine work. The business looked successful.