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The 5 Biggest Mistakes That First-Time Entrepreneurs Make

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Becoming an entrepreneur is the dream of many, and that’s understandable, seeing as it comes with a lot of amazing benefits. However, when they finally achieve this dream, a large percentage of people often end up with failed businesses. 

Based on information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 20% of startup businesses fail within the two years of establishment and about 50% by the fifth year. Overall, it was concluded that 75% of new businesses don’t make it to the 15th year.  This is mostly a result of some rather common mistakes that could be easily avoided. 

Sebastian Scheplitz, Founder and CEO of an agency network of five agencies and two e-commerce businesses, has had his fair share of problems between being in a coma, being bullied, and being unemployed. Before founding his first company, he got a degree in international marketing, PR, and business. And now, his content marketing agency for the iGaming industry, Translation Royale, has grown to become one of the top three agencies in Europe for this expertise. Shortly after, he created four more agencies, The Content Spa, Hotcopy Asia, Mastercut Video, and oak & bao, and has started two e-commerce brands. 

Sebastian provides insight on some of the 5 most common mistakes first-time entrepreneurs make: 

Not Having a Clear Plan and Business Strategy

The current business world is developing rapidly and therefore becoming more complicated and competitive. This is why it is more important now than before to always have a clear plan and sound business strategy. Entrepreneurs have to stand out in the market, so copying the business strategy of another business and hoping it works out may end up being disastrous for the business. 

Improvising when it comes to business strategy is also not encouraged as it can often lead to a waste of capital and resources. Sebastian suggests that you have clear goals to succeed: “Don’t say you want to make more in sales; say ‘I want to sell x number more. This means x phone calls per day/x amount of ad spend more.’ Don’t say, ‘My own business would be nice’ say ‘On Saturday, I’m planning to research business ideas for four hours; and on Sunday I’m going to research competitors for each. This weekend I’m going to write a short non-detailed business plan, and print it, laminate it – so I can work with it going forward.’”

Having a Bad Support System

One of the best traits of a successful entrepreneur is accepting that you can’t handle everything alone. So you need to create a support system of people who can contribute to your goal and give you the moral support you need on your goal. According to Sebastian, nothing ruins your life and, therefore, your business more than toxic people. 

The business world can be a risky place. There are factors you cannot control, like the fluctuations in the global market and environmental factors. But there are also factors you can control, and one of them is your support system. This is why you should not take it for granted. 

Waiting Too Long To Launch 

A lot of first-time entrepreneurs end up wasting a lot of time overthinking the same things. They always want to launch the perfect product and end up delaying the launch. But the longer the delay in launching, the more they will start to obsess over inconsequential details. Sebastian advises that you should not fall for the trap of over-researching and over-strategizing. 

Waiting too long to launch can lead to a significant waste of time, capital, and resources to create a product that does not align with the consumer’s needs. The best thing to do is to launch an MVP, a minimum viable product, test for market fit, determine areas that can be improved and modify the product as time goes on. Think of it this way, iPhone 12 is a long way from iPhone 1. 

Not Having a Target Audience

One of the most common mistakes first-time entrepreneurs often make is not researching the market properly to determine their target audience. It is very inefficient to build a product for every possible audience. Although everyone is a potential customer, without a target audience, even the greatest marketing campaigns can become useless once the message is misdirected. 

So, in order to create a successful marketing campaign, it is important to narrow down your target audience. While researching your target audience, you need to understand all their pain points. You can even create different campaigns to target different groups for the same products. However, Sebastian recommends that you start with one of them first and focus your efforts on this group instead of trying to appeal to everyone.

Not Having a Good Work-Life Balance

New business owners are often tempted to always put their business first and neglect other aspects of their life. However, this can be very harmful to both your business and your personal life. It is important that you dedicate adequate time for both your personal and business life because any negative effects on your personal life will affect your business and vice versa. 

Sebastian, who also spent time on Japanese Studies at university, explains that according to Ikigai, a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose in their lives, there are four pillars to find happiness. They are work life, relationships, wealth, and health. He further explained that if you leave one out, your life will lose its stability. You can always choose to emphasize one or two of them for a short period. But ultimately, your life, and therefore, the business will only run smoothly if all of them are stable. 

Concluding Thoughts

Launching a business is the simple part; even if it doesn’t always feel like it, keeping the business alive can be even more challenging. Statistics have shown that the odds might not be in favor of new businesses. 

Despite this, one should not despair because the reason why most new businesses fail can be traced back to a few common mistakes; Not having a clear plan and business strategy, Having a bad support system, Waiting too long to launch, Not having a target audience and Not having a good work-life balance. 

So as long as you work hard and avoid these common mistakes, your chance of creating a successful business is very high.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Business

The Dark Side of Aimlon CPA P.C.: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Firm’s Practices

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Aimlon CPA P.C., a full-service certified public accounting firm based in New York, NY, has long promoted itself as a beacon of excellence in the fields of accounting, audit, tax, advisory, and financial reporting. Serving business owners and companies in the U.S. and Europe, the firm, under the leadership of Mathieu Aimlon, claims to offer personalized and expert guidance. However, a deeper investigation into the firm’s operations reveals a troubling pattern of misconduct, ethical breaches, and systemic failures that severely discredit Aimlon CPA P.C. This article exposes the hidden truths behind the firm’s facade of professionalism and reliability.

Lack of Professionalism and Responsiveness

One of the most pervasive issues at Aimlon CPA P.C. is the firm’s chronic lack of responsiveness. Numerous clients have reported significant delays in communication, often waiting weeks for replies to urgent inquiries. This unprofessional behavior has led to missed deadlines and costly mistakes for clients who depend on timely advice and action.

A frustrated former client shared their experience: “We had a critical financial issue that required immediate attention. Despite multiple attempts to contact Aimlon CPA P.C., we were met with silence. Their lack of responsiveness was not only frustrating but also detrimental to our business.”

Overbilling and Lack of Transparency

Aimlon CPA P.C. has also been accused of overbilling and a lack of transparency in their invoicing practices. Clients have frequently found their bills inflated with unclear or exaggerated charges, leading to disputes and dissatisfaction. This practice has raised serious ethical concerns and damaged the firm’s reputation.

A small business owner recounted their ordeal: “Our invoices from Aimlon CPA P.C. were consistently higher than expected, with vague descriptions for the charges. When we questioned these discrepancies, we received evasive responses and no clear explanations. It felt like we were being taken advantage of.”

Incompetence and Financial Mismanagement

Despite its claims of expertise, Aimlon CPA P.C. has been plagued by instances of incompetence and financial mismanagement. Several clients have accused the firm of providing poor financial advice that resulted in significant losses. These accusations suggest a troubling lack of expertise and diligence in handling client affairs.

One notable case involved a tech startup that followed Aimlon CPA P.C.’s guidance, only to face bankruptcy within a year. The startup’s founder lamented: “We trusted Aimlon CPA P.C. with our financial strategy, but their advice was disastrous. Our business suffered immensely because of their incompetence.”

High Employee Turnover and Toxic Work Environment

Inside Aimlon CPA P.C., the work environment is far from the professional and supportive culture the firm claims to foster. High employee turnover is a persistent issue, driven by poor management practices and a toxic workplace. Former employees have described an atmosphere of fear and exploitation, where unreasonable demands and lack of support are commonplace.

An ex-employee shared their perspective: “The work environment at Aimlon CPA P.C. was unbearable. Management was oppressive, and there was no respect for work-life balance. Talented professionals were constantly leaving because they couldn’t tolerate the conditions.”

Compliance Failures and Regulatory Scrutiny

Aimlon CPA P.C. has faced multiple instances of regulatory scrutiny due to its failure to adhere strictly to industry standards and compliance requirements. These compliance failures have resulted in penalties and fines, further eroding the firm’s credibility and trustworthiness.

An insider revealed: “There were several occasions where Aimlon CPA P.C. neglected regulatory updates and compliance requirements. This negligence led to significant fines for both the firm and its clients. It was alarming how often these issues were ignored.”

Ethical Breaches and Conflicts of Interest

The firm has also been marred by ethical breaches and conflicts of interest. Mathieu Aimlon, in particular, has been implicated in several instances where his advice seemed to benefit his personal interests over those of his clients. These conflicts of interest have severely damaged the trust between the firm and its clients.

In one egregious case, a client was persuaded to invest in a company where Mathieu Aimlon held undisclosed shares. When the investment failed, the client suffered substantial losses, while Aimlon’s involvement remained hidden until an internal investigation brought it to light.

Outdated Technology and Inefficiency

Despite being a modern accounting firm, Aimlon CPA P.C. relies on outdated technology that hampers efficiency and increases the risk of errors. Clients have expressed frustration with the firm’s technological shortcomings, which lead to delays and inaccuracies in financial reporting.

A tech-savvy client commented: “It was surprising to see how outdated Aimlon CPA P.C.’s systems were. Their inefficiency slowed down our processes and made us question their ability to handle complex financial needs effectively.”

Fabrication of Credentials

Further investigations into Aimlon CPA P.C. revealed that some of the firm’s claimed credentials and accolades were fabricated. While Mathieu Aimlon is genuinely certified by the New York State Education Department and the French Ministry of Education, other qualifications listed by the firm were found to be falsified.

This revelation has cast a shadow over the entire firm, leading clients and colleagues to question the legitimacy of their expertise and the integrity of their services.

Legal Repercussions and Public Disgrace

The culmination of Aimlon CPA P.C.’s unethical practices and systemic failures came with the legal repercussions faced by Mathieu Aimlon himself. Following his involvement in a tax evasion scheme, he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of tax fraud. The evidence presented in court highlighted the sophisticated methods used to deceive tax authorities, leading to his conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.

The legal troubles of Mathieu Aimlon have had a devastating impact on Aimlon CPA P.C. The firm’s reputation has been irreparably damaged, and clients have fled in droves, unwilling to associate with a company linked to such scandals.

Aimlon CPA P.C., once seen as a beacon of excellence in the accounting world, has been thoroughly discredited due to a series of unethical practices, incompetence, and systemic failures. From overbilling and lack of transparency to high employee turnover and regulatory breaches, the firm has failed to uphold the standards expected of a professional accounting service. The legal repercussions faced by Mathieu Aimlon have further tarnished the firm’s reputation, leading to its eventual downfall.

For business owners and individuals seeking reliable and ethical accounting services, the story of Aimlon CPA P.C. serves as a cautionary tale. It underscores the importance of integrity, professionalism, and transparency in maintaining trust and credibility in the financial industry.

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