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According to a recent study, 50% of small businesses close within just three years. This means that in order to ensure your long-term success, you need to be able to hit the ground running while your business is in its infancy. This way, you can build up the funds and business acumen required to reach a sense of stability and facilitate future growth and development.
However, for first-time business owners, this can feel easier said than done. After all, you’ll have to be able to rise above endless challenges, from building a customer base to marketing yourself effectively.
With that in mind, here are some simple yet reliable strategies that you can utilise to start your business off on the right foot!
Become a customer-service pro. One of the easiest ways to make a great first impression on your customers is to offer consistently excellent customer service. This means that whether you’re interacting face-to-face or online, you need to be polite and courteous and establish some kind of rapport. Not only will this improve their perception of your brand, but it will also encourage loyalty and repeat custom. As such, it ensures that you’re building a customer base you can rely on. They are also much more likely to recommend your brand to others, which can help you to increase sales.
Invest in the right equipment. It’s likely that you do not have unlimited funds at your disposal when it comes to launching your business, but that does not mean that you can afford to cut corners when it comes to buying essential business tools and equipment. Remember, these products are a long-term investment that you’ll use for years to come! For example, if you’re running a food service business, a commercial freezer is an essential purchase that will help you to comply with the relevant standards and regulations and keep your business running smoothly.
Plan for the worst, and come out on top. Developing a contingency plan (i.e., a plan of action for when things go wrong) is another great way to ensure that your business succeeds in the long term. After all, it means that you are not left scrambling to come up with a solution in the face of challenges, as there’s already a plan in place for you to follow. This also ensures that your employees know how to respond to any challenges they encounter too.
Try to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When you’re running your own company, it’s highly likely that you are willing to put more time and energy into your work than you would if you were working for someone else. However, with 39% of small business owners working over 60 hours a week, this is something that is simply not sustainable in the long term. After all, this can quickly put you on the path to burnout and exhaustion, which will affect your ability to work to the best of your ability. For example, when overworked, you’re less productive and less efficient, which means that tasks that should only take thirty minutes to complete can take several hours.