5 Reasons Small Businesses Fail (and How to Avoid Them)

Small businesses are on the rise, yet many of them fail within a year. Find out what preventatives are needed to avoid becoming a statistic.

Small businesses are the foundation of our economy. According to data compiled by the U.S. Small Business Administration, in 2022, small businesses comprised more than 99% of all American businesses. However, launching and maintaining a small business is not easy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of new businesses close within their first year.

Understanding basic business fundamentals and common reasons behind small business failure can help you avoid those mistakes and increase your chances of success.

Lack of planning

A business plan is a document that outlines important information regarding operations, goals, and finances, serving as a guide for measuring progress and making necessary adjustments. Your plan should be well-developed long before products and services are available to customers. Failing to do so can leave your business unprepared to navigate market challenges.

When writing a business plan, include the following:

• An executive summary of your business and a clear company description.
• Information regarding your company’s organization and management structure.
• The products and/or services you will offer.
• Marketing and sales strategies.
• Financial projections for your business, as well as any funding requests.
• An appendix with necessary sources and additional information.

When crafting your business plan, highlight how you will attract and retain your customer base, what makes your company original, and the sales process. Once complete, review your plan regularly and update it when needed to ensure it remains relevant.

Financial challenges

Financial challenges are hard to avoid, and they can make it difficult for your business to flourish and remain profitable. Limited funding or inconsistent cash flow, combined business and personal finances, and issues with budgeting or establishing prices are common financial issues a small business may encounter.

Entrepreneurs should understand various funding options, such as traditional loans, personal loans, microlenders, crowdfunding, and investors. Depending on what stage your business is in, some sources of funding — including a combination of sources — may be more appropriate than others.

Once you’re funded, learn how to manage and track your finances. Having a clear understanding of where your money goes is essential for ongoing success.

Poor employee management

A poorly managed business can lead to serious ramifications, hindering a company’s chances of success. Bad employee management is harmful to the health of the business and to the employees. It can lead to excessive turnover, stress and anxiety, reduced engagement, and overall poor bottom-line results.

Enhancing employees’ sense of autonomy, competency, achievement, and belonging are great methods to boost morale, build loyalty, and reduce turnover. Management should be trained regularly to build and enhance leadership skills — including providing feedback and recognition to employees to show appreciation for their performance and efforts.

Inadequate marketing

Budgeting for branding and marketing expenses is vital to the health of your business. It can be costly and ineffective if your small business has no branding and marketing direction or strategy, fails to attract customers, or even turns them away.

Identify and understand your market segment and determine how you want to approach potential customers. Test your marketing strategy by creating relevant content and campaigns. Finally, develop a plan to measure the success of your marketing efforts — including tracking metrics like overall website traffic, email open rates, and cost per engagement — and then adjust as needed.

Failure to adapt to market changes

Adaptability is essential to keeping up with our ever-changing cultural and economic needs. Because change is unavoidable, business owners must avoid becoming complacent and adjust to market changes for longevity.

Some strategies to adapt to an ever-changing market include:

• Hiring creative and forward-thinking employees who understand and believe in your mission.
• Create a positive work environment providing opportunities for growth and development.
• Staying on top of market changes by conducting research and paying attention to what’s hot, trending, and relevant.
• Knowing your target audience, their needs, and their behaviors, as well as how they may change over time.
• Staying current with technology, and making sure what you are implementing benefits your brand.
• Continuously assess whether your products or services are outdated and decide if improvements — or even an entirely new product — are needed.