When I first started out in business a few years ago there was a lot I already knew – or at least that is what I thought.  Running a business is a full time occupation and (should be) a passion if you wish to be successful in any sense of the word. Starting out I thought things were going great, regular income, great clients and as time went on many CVs being sent to me for people wanting to work for my small business.

I joined several different networking group to do the traditional business networking lark and found some worked for me whilst others didn’t that is not to say that one group is better or inferior to the other. This is something everyone has to test for themselves and depending on your business will really decide on which marketing route you take – perhaps its a certain networking group, telephone marketing, email or direct mail.

After trying the different marketing approaches and groups of networking busy bodies (albeit meeting some great people along the way) I have come to the conclusion of the following 5 tips for new businesses.

1. You do not need to offer the best/cheapest/quickest solution to your clients – but you DO need to ensure you offer something of quality that the consumer WANTS otherwise what is the point? There are an endless amount of businesses out there offering service/products that people simply do not want. No likey – No lighty.
2. Know when to hand over control/access to someone else if you are not capable of doing the job. Running your own business is very much like having your own child – you may not want to hand over any control or aspect of your company to someone else but if you are useless at accounting – get a book keeper, if you cannot do sales – hire a sales person. Don’t strugle along if you are simply not good at it – you will cause more problems in the long run.
3. Have patience – the phones will NOT start ringing off the hook on day one of business and you will not be living the lush lifestyle just because “I run a company” that said connect online via social media site such as facebook, linkedin, twitter etc etc… Creating conversations online with social media may help get not only find new customers but suppliers, help and a lot more.
4. Get a great accountant and/or book keeper – simple as that – make sure your books are in order and use an online accounting package such as Xero.com or Kashflow.com which are both online accounting packages that allow you to keep on top of your invoicing, banking and cash flow which will allow you to save time and money on more expensive and difficult to use systems such as Sage or Quickbooks.
5. Learn to say NO – often people believe that more work and so more money is great for the business – well at some point you have to learn to say NO.   Saying yes to every piece of work that comes your way can lead to a variety of problems including:
   • overloading yourself with work that you cannot complete on time/budget
   • end up working away with a client who proves to be very demanding of your time and pays too little
   • you will end up becoming stressed, sleepless and your quality of work will degrade

Prize for the best business tip comment/suggestion

Meeting some of the most fantastic people in the country is what I seem to be doing lately as I travel up and down the land, one of the most recent I have encountered is Annaliese Morgan who runs a pet health spa in Yorkshire (www.fuchsiapetsonline.co.uk) after sitting down and having a chat I found Annaliese to be extremely interesting and her thoughts on business and competition in the arena to be of great interest.

Who are you?

Annaliese Morgan DipAVN (Surgical) RVN MBVNA

What do you do?

I own a pet health spa, combining high standards of pet health care with equally high standards of grooming and fabulous treatments in a luxury environment.

Author of veterinary text books and pet health books for owners.

Best thing about your job/hobby?

I make a difference to pets and their owners every day.

What is a day in your life like?

It can sometimes resemble air traffic control at Heathrow! The days are usually spent advising owners and caring for dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in a variety of ways. Anything from micro chipping, upset tummies, brushing teeth, removing ticks, the latest haircut to fantastic glitter spray!

Any writing I may be doing I generally do in the evenings or more often than not, the early hours of the morning!

If you could do something today, anything what would it be?

Pilot aeroplanes.

Most inspired moment or event in your life?

A recent family trip back to Switzerland.

What is your favorite thing to do?

Holidays and time in other countries has to be at the top. Followed by normal simple things, like watching TV in bed or a pint in the pub on a Sunday afternoon.

Who inspires you?

Anita Roddick and Gabrielle Coco Chanel.

Both of these women (in my opinion) were before their time when they first began following their dreams and ventures, only to turn into huge successes and icons.

Most difficult thing you ever had to do?

Deciding whether to continue my time and career in veterinary practice with colleagues I hold very close to me or to leave.

Favorite way to relax?

Not something I am great at, usually involves the iPod being plugged in, walking Michael the Beagle or being with my friends.

Anything you want to plug?

www.fuchsiapetsonline.co.uk

My new book, Desperate Housepets , The Singles Guide to Healthy Pets – Pre leased in March, general release in June

www.twitter.com/fuchsiaonline