With today’s economy sagging drastically, we need to have small businesses growing steadily to help boost it. However, it’s never smooth sailing starting a small business from scratch. Sometimes the sea storms hit so hard that you fear your business may sink. To get you ready for a better experience, below are a few challenges you expect to face as a small businesses owner and possible solutions to each.
1- Getting and Keeping a steady Customer base
For most startups, getting and keeping a steady customer base is major problem. In most cases, small businesses experience what’s more or less an alternating “feast or famine” spree on a weekly or monthly basis.
This fluctuation makes it difficult for startup merchants to plan ahead. The quick remedy to this challenge is to establish a system for not only acquiring but also keeping the customers you get for life. Build a network that’s able to sustain the all highs and lows of your business.
2- Time Management
Time is money and for a small entrepreneur, it is the most precious commodity. Since every dawn wakes with a new set of challenges, it is only important to keep “first things first” and get the vitals done. The problem is to come up with filters to help you determine what’s relevant for your type of business.
For example, while it’s true marketing and social media are essential for the success of any business. The ploy is to identify the type of mediums that develop better return on investment and those that are only taking away from your consumers and generating profits. Any business can testify that this time is worth spending!
3- Easy Access to Capital
Obtaining capital for a startup is a major setback. Quick and easy access to working capital as well as other funding is crucial for any small businesses since this forms the basis of growth, novelty, and creation of employment opportunities.
Until banks deem it worth easing their stringent lending criteria, startups will continue facing hurdles in their effort to acquire capital. However, you might want to consider nonprofits or microlenders like First American Merchants— they normally have less strict rules and fewer requirements to meet for you to access a loan. Another reliable alternative is to apply for an American cash advance.
4- Keeping up with trending Topics
Keeping up with new trends in your field is one way to stay ahead of your competitors. There are many ways today to stay forward-looking in the online world;
Search blogs, read articles and go through discussion boards that relate to your market. Regularly post upbeat comments and links that lead to your site to keep it active.
You may also want to use Google Alerts to receive alerts anytime your topic is mentioned online. Follow all the positive and negative comments people make about your competitors. Create a blog for your company and write on all hot topics online that relate to your field.
Now that you know all potential challenges you may face as a small business owner, it’s only wise to prepare yourself as early as possible to avoid falling into open traps. Only that way will you be able to stay put when hard times come knocking on your door.
