| Many small business startups fail within the first 2 | | | | hands-on. Be the boss, but at the same time be the |
| years of existence. There are several different | | | | employee who does actual work. Don't get |
| factors reason for the failure. One reason many | | | | disconnected from your own business now that 'you |
| entrepreneurs often under estimate the need to find | | | | are a the boss'. Stay involved as long as you can. |
| a niche market and to serve it well. Instead of finding | | | | Work harder than your employees. Be emotional and |
| the niche market they attack the big guys head on. | | | | inspire your employees with your dedication. The |
| If you have enough money to throw at 'this problem' | | | | spark will eventually jump over and the productivity |
| you might succeed, but in reality almost every small | | | | increase can be enormous. Make your work place |
| business doing this will fail and eventually shutdown | | | | 'cool'. Create an environment people want to work at. |
| operations.So, what should small business startups do | | | | If employees wake up in the morning and really like |
| to avoid this big mistake? How can they survive and | | | | to come to work because they enjoy what they do, |
| grow and become successful?As mentioned before - | | | | you will definitely benefit from it. And keep in mind - |
| finding a niche market is the first big key to not be | | | | you need all the help you can get when competing |
| destroyed head-on buy the big guns. Never, ever try | | | | with the market leader. Be the employer of choice.Be |
| to be the "Wal-Mart" for everyone. Not everyone is | | | | the star in your community. The place where you |
| your target group. Carve out a niche market, then | | | | start your business can be the founding place of the |
| slowly steal away market share from the market | | | | next 'business empire'. People are proud if one of |
| players. Eventually pick a niche that you know of | | | | them makes it to the top. Remember Johnny |
| where the market leader is not spending enough | | | | Carson? He gave back to the community where he |
| attention on. Grow here and grab market share. | | | | had grown up. Nobody outside of that local area |
| Eventually you will grow big enough without being | | | | really knew about it or had paid attention but the |
| noticed to become the market leader for this niche. | | | | locals - they admired Johnny Carson and were |
| Companies like Microsoft and Wal-Mart tend be slow | | | | thankful supporters. Keep this in mind when building a |
| moving but they have enough cash to catch up quick. | | | | business. You might become as big as other market |
| We have seen situations where the small business | | | | players, but doing good is not a matter of how many |
| owner was able to cash out big time from a situation | | | | millions you have. On the other side - you do not |
| where he/she was able to grab enough market share | | | | want to build a business just to make $30K per year. |
| to be considered 'armed and dangerous' for the big | | | | Your goals should go much further out and higher. |
| guns.Compete on things where large market players | | | | Try to be the best in your field. The sky is the |
| fall short. Compete on experience and value added | | | | limit.Use technology. Technology can be your friend. |
| services - not price. You will not be able to compete | | | | Small businesses can respond much faster to market |
| on price with somebody like Wal-Mart or Target. | | | | trends than the big guns. Be innovative. While you're |
| Their buying power is just too big for you to | | | | the small guy you can use this to your advantage. |
| swallow. Let your experience disappear differences in | | | | Being small is no excuse when it comes to using |
| price for a product. Give the customer the feeling | | | | sophisticated technology. See the advantages of |
| that you know what you are talking about and that | | | | what technology can do and put away with the |
| this experience is worth spending a little | | | | whining about the next upgrade coming soon. As long |
| extra.Emotions can be a big advantage for the small | | | | as you calculate it properly and make your case, you |
| business startup. Bond with the clients and vendors. A | | | | can most likely provide a quick ROI (return on |
| personal (business) relationship that makes everyone | | | | investment).Of course there are many more things |
| feel good will get you repeat business and fair deals | | | | that come into play in regards to business success. |
| from vendors (friends don't steal from friends). If the | | | | The steps outlined in this article however will give |
| vendor can make his share of revenue and you can | | | | you a good head start when working on strategic |
| get your share of the pot - everyone will be happy. | | | | placement of where and how your business should |
| Nobody likes to be squeezed by the big sales | | | | start. Good Luck. |
| department of the market leader.The work place. Be | | | | |