Running A Small Business

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Comment by Angela Anson on December 10, 2009 at 10:57am

I have found that one man bands are good at their trade but mis the admin and then mis opportunities. That is why I set up my virtual PA business 2 half years ago. Also they have no one to talk things through. Some ideas sound off the wall but you need an honest friend to say "You what" then actually I think that you are right. How are you going to get it to market. What contacts have you got in that market?

The conversations that I have had with some of my clients would have sounded daft to anybody outside the business world but I have seen the relief on their face at having someone to talk to.

You are not crazy you have some good ideas that can work.

Angela

Comment by Harvey Raybould on November 15, 2009 at 8:39am

Hi,

I think one of the biggest problems small business owners face, particularly in the first few years, is the ability to say no to work that is not your core focus. I have had experience of this in the past, a client requests a job which takes you off on a tangent that in the long term has no real benefit to your business.

However, you have to keep a roof over your head and food in your mouth, so it is a very hard decision to make and turning work down can seem very extreme.

Also, I think far too many small businesses fail today because they are too reliant on 1 or 2 customers. Should you fall out with them, new management brings in different preferred suppliers or they go bust, can leave you and your business in serious trouble.

Although, the 15 – 16 hour days can get to you, the rewards if you stay focussed and make the correct decisions are well worth the effort.

Regards

Harvey

Comment by Anthony Gibson on November 14, 2009 at 11:21am

Both the wife and I run a small business in Northamptonshire, we make a local magazine and we deliver it, yes deliver it free to 2,050 homes to the villages near to where we live.
Also we have started to make web sties for a few clients, and it's picking up. We have 6 up loaded at the moment and are work on another 4.
We still have all the problems a small business have, to much 'Going Out' and clients holding back from payment 30-45 and even 60 days or going bust!
It's all the fun of being small...

Anthony Gibson
www.gandgpublishing.com
www.villagenewsadvertiser.com