Life as a young entrepreneur is a thrilling ride! Developing the foundations and running a business is one of the toughest things ever tried.
Being a young entrepreneur, you’ll come across myriad issues, ranging from legal to finance, product development, marketing, human resources—the list is simply endless. While you’re expected to know a multitude of things, let’s accept it, it’s all about time.
You cannot expect startups and their founders to be well versed with all the financial elements in the industry while they’re just starting a business. This is why we’ve curated a short but precise guide to help you avoid the financial mistakes made by young startups.
Entrepreneurship Guide For Young Startups
- Hope for the best and embrace yourself for the worst:
You can’t always perform at your 100%, it’s next to impossible, entrepreneurship isn’t only about enjoying the good, it’s also about uncertainties which we need to be prepared about. If you are not ready to take a financial leap, don’t just quit your job to pursue entrepreneurship.
Remember, it is always a smart move to gain some traction before you go all-in with your side project. We recommend securing at least a few months of living expenses over your emergency savings.
2. Learn to manage your cash flow efficiently:
One of the most common pieces of advice you’ll find among many senior investors is to “use your money wisely”. No business can be successful if they’re operating without a proper inflow of cash. Seamless cash flow is one of the most primary financial elements that help you master the course of your operations.
You’re simply running in circles if your cash flow isn’t clearly plotted. If you have no idea about the income and expenditure in your business, you’re taking a huge risk. We suggest you create a budget and stick to it.
3. Stay transparent with your lenders and investors:
Being on the stepping stone to the foundation of a great business, young entrepreneurs must understand the value of transparency in their operations. Nothing can be more troublesome than business owners who are shady and dishonest or maintain a lack of communication in their course of operations.
Being a young business, you might be lured by unhealthy means to generate the funds required for running your operations. Remember, if you continue to operate in the secrets and shadows, your company will start losing credibility and your investors might start pulling off their funds.
4. Account for those receipts as well:
Yes, we’re living in a digital era and there’s hardly any need for receipts, however, we suggest you keep one when you receive one. It’s advisable to not keep tossing away those receipts, else, you might land into trouble. Receipts come in handy when you’re about to file taxes as they’re tax-deductible expenses for your audit
Ensure that you’ve recorded the receipts, as soon as you get them. Being regular with your documentation also saves you a long time with your financial data when the taxation period is near.
5. Cut back on your expenses when it’s time:
It’s business and you never know how your expenses might spiral out of control, which is why it is always necessary to amend to necessary margins when it’s time. You need to sit down with your expenses and track them closely, keeping an eye on the pockets where they can be saved. Once you have had a better look, figure out where it can be curtailed.
Managing your finances like an expert is the building block to a successful business for a young entrepreneur. Staying ahead of the curve will always help you in making decisions that lie in your favor. Always try and maintain a grip over your variable and fixed variable costs as they’ll prove to be a turning point for your company.
Lastly, always remember to mix and match the various financial elements into play. All the best!