Good employees. Finding the right person is very challenging. If you want to grow your company beyond what only you can handle, you will have to bring on employees. I interview 30 a year and hire 4 out of those 4 only 1 stays on. These numbers are my experience for the industry I am in, some industries may fair better.
Time management. When I started, thirty five years ago, real estate was a lot different than today. Lucky I had the right advise and support through the years.
Business from Alpharetta, GA
Answered on Nov 13th, 2017
Sales. I worked as a freelancer for B2B agencies with large global clients. The projects were at least 3 months long, difficult, and rewarding.
As a single consultant, I do not have staff and IT equipment/software, the reputation, and website investment to attract these large clients on my own.
I enjoy working for small businesses on shorter and more affordable projects. Referrals are key, and this niche needs more networking time to develop new clients. Projects are shorter and more affordable as well.
1. ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS HAVE LITTLE SUPPORT IN START UP. Being in an alternative business during our set up not having 'professionals' that could advise us about web development (back in 2006), and literally no one to talk to regarding establishing an alternative business. It was hard to get other people in our service to even talk about what they were seeing in the business. When you have a unique business SCORE's people don't know how to talk to you.
2. GETTING LOANS. Again, the same issues. Alternative businesses may have a almost impossible task finding short term loans, business grants, etc. It's not something that business classes talk too much about.
3. STORE FRONTS. It's again another part of the puzzle especially for alternative businesses don't discuss: how to find short term sharing places or economically feasible locations that are commercial.
4. PHONE ETIQUETTE. People call after hours, demanding immediate help, we're not a 24/7 company. People misdialing and then denying they called! Lastly of course for ALL businesses; robocalls, spam calls, then there are the 'business calls' by "google" that aren't....and this list goes on.
5. SOCIAL MEDIA. Because Facebook makes literally DAILY changes to it's interface, and lack of real hands on help even in classes for businesses, that EATS up time that could be spent working for clients. Also I would add that Facebook ends up taking up a MINIMUM of 4 hours to monitor, writing, and it does not translate into sales. Actually I would have to add that it is our YELP account brings in customers.
Involved with business that charges me for leads when they send too many contractors out there for the same leads. So they’re the only ones making the money.
Our biggest challenge has been benefitting from advertising dollars. Almost all of our event and life stage services are from referrals. It has been very rare that a paid ad has paid for itself, let alone contribute to profit.
Answers (1-10)
Only three challenges:
Lack of knowledge
Lack of capital
Lack of time
--If you want it done right... DIY--
--You cannot possibly do it all youself !
Good employees. Finding the right person is very challenging. If you want to grow your company beyond what only you can handle, you will have to bring on employees. I interview 30 a year and hire 4 out of those 4 only 1 stays on. These numbers are my experience for the industry I am in, some industries may fair better.
Time management. When I started, thirty five years ago, real estate was a lot different than today. Lucky I had the right advise and support through the years.
Sales. I worked as a freelancer for B2B agencies with large global clients. The projects were at least 3 months long, difficult, and rewarding.
As a single consultant, I do not have staff and IT equipment/software, the reputation, and website investment to attract these large clients on my own.
I enjoy working for small businesses on shorter and more affordable projects. Referrals are key, and this niche needs more networking time to develop new clients. Projects are shorter and more affordable as well.
My biggest challenges are:
1. ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS HAVE LITTLE SUPPORT IN START UP. Being in an alternative business during our set up not having 'professionals' that could advise us about web development (back in 2006), and literally no one to talk to regarding establishing an alternative business. It was hard to get other people in our service to even talk about what they were seeing in the business. When you have a unique business SCORE's people don't know how to talk to you.
2. GETTING LOANS. Again, the same issues. Alternative businesses may have a almost impossible task finding short term loans, business grants, etc. It's not something that business classes talk too much about.
3. STORE FRONTS. It's again another part of the puzzle especially for alternative businesses don't discuss: how to find short term sharing places or economically feasible locations that are commercial.
4. PHONE ETIQUETTE. People call after hours, demanding immediate help, we're not a 24/7 company. People misdialing and then denying they called! Lastly of course for ALL businesses; robocalls, spam calls, then there are the 'business calls' by "google" that aren't....and this list goes on.
5. SOCIAL MEDIA. Because Facebook makes literally DAILY changes to it's interface, and lack of real hands on help even in classes for businesses, that EATS up time that could be spent working for clients. Also I would add that Facebook ends up taking up a MINIMUM of 4 hours to monitor, writing, and it does not translate into sales. Actually I would have to add that it is our YELP account brings in customers.
I hope this helps some!
Lack of time to make my business gro
Involved with business that charges me for leads when they send too many contractors out there for the same leads. So they’re the only ones making the money.
Trying to get good leads.
Best way to get good leads?
Our biggest challenge has been benefitting from advertising dollars. Almost all of our event and life stage services are from referrals. It has been very rare that a paid ad has paid for itself, let alone contribute to profit.
Getting Qualified Leads
getting people in the door ! Nobody knows we are here ! Advertising does not appear to be effective enough for the funds involved in advertising