You are passionate about your start-up idea. You are on fire and want to get started IMMEDIATELY. I remember this from my own start-up in 2021, and I see the same thing in my coachees in the AVGS start-up coaching program.
What I also observe are mistakes that are often made when founding. No wonder, because we are not taught how to start a business at school! I’ll tell you 10 common mistakes so that you can avoid them as a founder and get closer to your dream of successful self-employment faster.
1st mistake: forgoing the funding you are entitled to
Many start-up enthusiasts want to get started right away. This is understandable if you are passionate about your topic and have already made up your mind to start your own business.
However, one mistake is to rush ahead too quickly without checking whether and which subsidies you are entitled to. You’ll be leaving money on the street that could really make your start-up easier.
For example, there is the AVGS (Activation and Placement Voucher), with which founders who are threatened by unemployment or who want to start a business from unemployment can take advantage of 100% free coaching.
Under certain conditions, you can also receive start-up money or a start-up grant, making it easier for you to start your own business. It certainly made my start-up a lot easier back then.
So, find out what support you are entitled to and take advantage of it so as not to make your start-up unnecessarily difficult. You can do a free funding check with us, read all the information here.
2nd mistake: Doing everything alone
Maybe you want to start your own business because you want to do your own thing. Alone. But please don’t make the mistake of doing everything related to your start-up on your own. Because it takes an incredible amount of time and energy to google everything yourself (or research it with ChatGPT), to distinguish between correct and incorrect information and to go round in circles on your own.
What do I recommend instead? Find a shortcut by getting a coach by your side. I myself went through start-up coaching at the beginning. Now that I’m a start-up coach myself, I see how much faster “my” founders make progress when they follow a clear guide.
So, even if you think you can do everything yourself: Talking to coaches or mentors will definitely save you time, give you confidence and help you avoid typical pitfalls.
3rd mistake: Not creating a business and financial plan
The start-up idea is often great, the motivation high – and yet the business model is not thought through to the end. The problem with this is that if you only have “a good idea” but no clear plan for how it will actually generate income, you quickly stumble across costs and other financial aspects.
A structured business and financial plan helps you to avoid exactly that. You keep an overview of income, expenditure and profitability. You can see where there are still gaps and can make adjustments at an early stage. A plan is also a valuable guide, especially in the first few months when everything is new anyway.
My tip: start thinking about your business model early on. This will protect you from unpleasant surprises and help you get off to a confident start. A business plan will help you do this. In this blog article, you can read how to create a business plan.
4th mistake: Not positioning yourself clearly
The business plan also goes hand in hand with your positioning. This means who (target group) you support with what (offer), what (problem) and how (method). Many founders want to help everyone. That’s understandable! The problem is, however, that if you address everyone, you won’t reach anyone.
That’s why our start-up coaching sessions also focus on developing a profitable positioning, including a precise message. Believe me, this will help you to become visible and attract customers!
5th mistake: Underestimating the market and competition
Closely linked to the last mistake is a lack of market analysis. Because you can have the most beautiful and unusual positioning: Imagine opening an ice skate rental shop in the middle of the Sahara. If the market isn’t right, you won’t be successful.
It is therefore important that you know your target group as well as your competitors. If you want to offer something that doesn’t even exist yet. Better check twice whether there is a demand for it!
6th mistake: Thinking about marketing too late
Another mistake when starting up is to throw yourself fully into your topic but forget about marketing or put it off until “sometime later”. I know that you’re interested in your start-up topic and there’s a good chance that you don’t offer marketing advice. And yet there is no way around marketing yourself in the future.
Even large and well-known brands such as McDonald’s or Adidas (still) advertise. As a newcomer, it is doubly important to make yourself known and become visible. Because if nobody knows you, nobody can buy from you!
So: Think about your marketing early. The good news is: If you scroll back up and remember point 2, you know:
You don’t have to do everything on your own!
7th error: No network setup
On the one hand, you can win customers through marketing. On the other hand, a good network will also help you. Because you will often find your first customers in your own environment.
It would only be a mistake to leave it at your existing environment. Building a network is absolutely helpful when you’re self-employed. Not only to gain customers, but also to exchange ideas and support each other. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without my network.
How do you get a network? Through local founder networks, online communities or at events, among other things. Just keep your eyes open!
8th mistake: Being too perfectionist
What stops many founders from moving forward is their perfectionism. I understand that, because you want to do a good job. Make the social media post look perfect. But “everything has to be perfect” often leads to everything taking too long. It also takes too much energy for what comes back. Because most people won’t even notice if a small detail is one way or another.
My recommendation: go out faster and don’t wait until everything is 110% perfect. In most cases, you can still make adjustments. This will help you make progress with your start-up and gain valuable experience.
9th mistake: Not organizing yourself and your bookkeeping digitally
“Hang on, I’ll just make a note of that in my pocket calendar …” I know that a nice pocket calendar has that little something extra. But in business, you should set yourself up well digitally right from the start, both in terms of your organization and your finances.
When it comes to bookkeeping, many people underestimate how quickly receipts, invoices and payments add up. If you wait until the end of the year to gather everything together, you lose time, nerves and, in the worst case, money.
My tip: set up fixed times for your financial routine, set aside reserves for taxes and use digital tools such as Lexoffice. While piles of paper and Excel spreadsheets become chaotic over time, digital systems provide an overview, clarity and professionalism. And they grow with you!
10th mistake: Not believing in yourself
Finally, something that is often underestimated: your mindset. Because if you don’t really believe that you can make it with self-employment, you will unconsciously slow yourself down, be it in price negotiations, marketing or networking.
Especially if many people around you are employed and advise you against self-employment, it is all the more important that you regularly work on your beliefs.
Success begins in the mind. Believe that you can do it. Get support when you need it. And remind yourself regularly why you started, because that is your strongest drive.
Avoid these 10 start-up mistakes with the help of start-up coaching
Now you know the 10 most common mistakes when starting a business and, above all, how to avoid them. You’ll be well prepared for your start in self-employment.
The most important thing is to be motivated, persevere and don’t try to do everything on your own. Seek support, exchange ideas and stay curious.
Since becoming self-employed, my life has changed a lot for the better. Of course, it’s not always easy, but it can be done! Self-employment is one of the best ways to grow personally and build a life that fulfills you.
About the author
Hi, ich bin Aline – Gründercoachin und Geschäftsführerin des gründungs.center in Mönchengladbach. Gemeinsam mit meinem Team begleite ich angehende Gründer:innen auf ihrem Weg in die Selbstständigkeit. Besonders wichtig ist mir dabei, über Möglichkeiten der Förderung aufzuklären und zu zeigen, welche Unterstützung es beim Start wirklich gibt. Denn ich weiß aus eigener Erfahrung, wie entscheidend das sein kann: Ohne mein damaliges Gründercoaching und den Gründungszuschuss hätte ich selbst vermutlich nicht gegründet.
