Business is tough, and most organisations feel this at some point in their lifetime. From entrepreneurs struggling in the first few years as a startup to larger businesses facing challenges that a changing market brings, it is not easy to stay on top. Whether you work for a company or run your own, knowing about the most common business mistakes out there is important.

    This will arm you with the knowledge of what to look out for and what to avoid in order to keep your business moving forward. It may surprise you that most businesses make the same mistakes, regardless of the sector they operate in, and these can be the difference between success and failure.

    Four of the most common business mistakes

    If you want to find out more about what pitfalls most commonly await all businesses, read on:

    • Expecting too much, too soon – If you are a new startup, then this is one of the major mistakes to avoid. Some people open their own business and get downhearted if they are not an instant success with millions of customers. The end result is that they lose interest and jack it in. New business is all about steady growth, so don’t expect miracles within the first few years.
    • Failure to react – This common mistake can see established businesses face choppy waters. Business is constantly changing due to new technology, customer expectations and new competitors coming into your sector. You should always be ready to adapt and react to any of these factors changing the industry you work in. By doing this, you will stay relevant and stay in business.
    • PPI – It may surprise you to know that many businesses have been affected by the current PPI scandal. They were mis-sold PPI on loans and credit cards in the same way as private individuals were. Make sure to fully read the terms of any deals you sign to avoid this type of issue. If you have been mis-sold PPI already, then remember to make a claim with a trusted firm such as ppi-claim.co before August 2019 to hopefully get some compensation.
    • Wasting time – Now we’re not talking about sitting round with your feet up here! However, it is a fact that a lot of business owners of SMEs waste time on tasks that don’t bring any return into the business. To avoid this, you should always spend most of your time on the activities that make actual money or attract customers to spend with you. Social media is very important in modern business, but if all you do is sit on Twitter all day with no financial return, it really is a waste of your time.

    Don’t make the same mistakes

    BusinessSight encourages businesses to audit over a week so they can better understand how much time is spent on ‘dead time’ activities. When it comes to business, if you can avoid the above mistakes that a lot of people make, then you are already ahead of the pack. This will not only see you working smarter but also see your business grow and be set for future success. As noted above, business is always changing, so remember to be on guard against these kinds of dangerous mistakes whenever you clock in for the day.