3 Things That Terrify Small Business Owners

3 Things That Terrify Small Business Owners

Fear dashes many dreams. 

You probably felt at least some of it as you considered whether to start your own business. But you did it anyway.

Still, there are critical tasks you have to take on as a business owner that can be downright scary, especially if they are outside your area of expertise. 

Whether you’ve been operating for six months or 10 years, you may always feel just a little queasy when you have to take them on. 

Here are three of the most nerve-racking fears that small business owners face and what you need to know about them.

Bringing on Staff

Hiring new employees is always challenging with any business. And with good reason: The cost of a bad hire can be as much as 30 percent of the individual’s first-year earnings. These costs come as the result of the impact of things like employee morale, supervisory time, and the price of recruiting and onboarding.

Once you’ve hired new employees, give them (and yourself) the best start possible by implementing effective onboarding procedures.

Complying with Regulations

If you’re a very small business, it may be entirely up to you as the owner to ensure that your business is in compliance with the myriad laws and regulations in place for today’s workplace. 

You’ll find a new rule every time you turn around in areas like information security, product and workplace safety, and employee conduct, devised primarily by state governments and federal agencies.

Compliance is something like best practices on steroids.

It isn’t simply a matter of following suggested guidelines because they're sound, proven ways to do business. Non-compliance sometimes has legal ramifications, including fines and lawsuits. Besides, it’s terrible publicity for you.

What to do? Learn about compliance regulations. School yourself in the major federal and state laws, explore resources offered by professional organizations, and consider outsourced HR consulting to make sure you’re all buttoned up.

Financial Management

This may be the one that really keeps you up at night and you haunts too.

A business has a lot of requirements when it comes to fiscal responsibility. 

You have to file income taxes and payroll taxes. Potential investors, banks, and franchisors will want to see standard financial reports. 

You need to understand cash flow and finances to evaluate your business’s performance, forecast revenue, collect payments, and try to predict the future of your business.

Creating a bookkeeping system for your business will go a long way to helping you gain peace of mind around your financial management.

Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment purposes, and not intended to be proper tax or legal advice, please consult with a professional regarding your specific tax or legal situation(s).