What makes a small business successful?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines small businesses as those employing fewer than 500 employees, and many are much smaller than that. In the USA, about a third of small businesses employ fewer than twenty employees. Many thousand of new small businesses are started every year, but few survive. In fact, according to the SBA, one in three fails during the first two years, and only one in two survives beyond five years.
People start small businesses for a variety of reasons, but whatever the particular motivation, certain characteristics make a small company more likely to succeed.
The niche and the importance of specialised products
Business advisers point to the importance of finding a niche. It is difficult for a small business to compete with the array of products or services a large business can offer. Instead, the small business that has defined what is unique about the product or service it provides has a greater chance of success. A small business can offer customers personalised service and specialised products or knowledge that can be more difficult to find in a large chain store, for example.
Related to the concept of finding a niche is the importance of maintaining a competitive edge. To be successful, a business has to look at what its competitors, whether large or small, are doing and find a way to stay ahead of the game. In addition to offering a specialised product or service, a business that has more efficient production or distribution systems, a better location, or a reputation for excellence in customer service can do well in a competitive market.
Research and planning are vital steps in setting up a small business. It is essential to determine who the potential customers are and the best way to reach them. It is also necessary to develop a sound business plan that, among other things, shows how the business will make a profit and projects the cash flow that will help the business stay afloat.
The financial support and the beauty of “being small”
Naturally, a successful small business starts out with proper financial support. In addition to the costs of starting the business, there are also costs of running it untili t starts turning a profit. Typically, a small business takes one to two years to become profitable. During that time, there are still expenses that have to be met. Rent has to be paid, employees have to be paid their wages, and supplies have to be bought. If plans have not been made for supporting the costs of the business until it brings in a profit, inevitably it will fail.
A business tip
One important tip is to start small. This allows owners the opportunity to learn little by little without making huge costly mistakes. Working alone in one’s basement during the initial phases ofthe business, for example, costs a great deal less than renting a space and hiring staff. If it generates less income than expected or if the market needs to be redefined, the financial losses will be much less if expenses have been kept to a minimum. About half of private-sector employees in the USA work for small businesses. This number is even greater in other parts of the world. Successful small companies make important contributions to the economy everywhere.