If you are ready to jump into business ownership you may have a type of business in mind, you may have the capital raised for the purchase and you may even have a business broker searching for the perfect opportunity – but what you may not have is the right business mindset to truly succeed as an entrepreneur.

Here are a few of the ways you can change your mindset to set yourself up for success:

Actions speak louder than words.

Business plans are great, but you need to keep from spending all of your time focused on an idealistic plan. In most small businesses, the way you hope things will go and the way they actually go are two completely different things. Great entrepreneurs are good at adapting to their continually changing environment – and they don’t spend all of their time writing plans. It’s just better to do what needs to be done.

Don’t blow all of your money up front.

You might have what feels like a lot of capital the day you get the keys to your business, but it is really important to remember that it might take a while – think months – to get the business turning the kind of profit you will need to be in the black.

Don’t make a rookie mistake and try to change or renovate too much right out of the gate. Many first-time buyers walk into a functioning business and gut the place, spending a small fortune on aesthetics so the business can look the way they want it to right away. The most successful business owners wait to make changes until they are sure what (if anything) needs to be changed. Spend a few months learning why the business runs the way it does and why the previous owner did things the way they did. Use their experience to your advantage and save your capital for what really needs to be done – later.

Your customers are absolutely everything.

The most important rule in entrepreneurship is the customer comes first – always. Unless you are driving your clients around to appointments – it really doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive. If you bought a bar, then it doesn’t matter what the furniture in your office looks like. Only spend money on things customers see and touch, thereby investing all of your energy back into your business. The more you invest in your business, the more likely you are to get a return for your money and time.

This customer-first approach covers your goods and services too. If you have grandma’s meatball recipe on the menu, but customer feedback says they’re gross – then it doesn’t matter how much you like them. They have to go.

The message here is whatever your idealistic hopes are for owning your own business, a good dose of patience and the ability to pivot when things inevitably go sideways will serve you far better than your plans. Keep the needs of your customers at the top of your priorities and be smart with the ways that you invest in your new business venture.

Are you thinking about buying a business but have questions about what business ownership would be like? Would you like to know how much capital you would need to buy a business? Please leave us a comment or question and we would be happy to help.

Michael Monnot

941.518.7138
Mike@InfinityBusinessBrokers.com
5111 Ocean Boulevard, Suite E
Siesta Key, FL 34242

www.InfinityBusinessBrokers.com