According to the Federal Government's Business Map survey, more than 3.8 million domestic companies were opened in 2023. Consequently, the data shows that in the same period, 1.7 million companies were closed. The reasons that lead an entrepreneur to declare the end of their activities can be numerous and depend heavily on the business style and the size of the enterprise.
In Brazil, the option to undertake is closely related to a necessity, not necessarily a choice. According to data from the GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor), 48.9% of new businesses are started due to some necessity. Therefore, many who try end up "bumping into" difficulties, largely because they lack the necessary knowledge for that role.
With this scenario in mind, sales and business specialist Fábio Oliveira, CEO of Sales Clube, points out three common mistakes at the beginning of your journey as an entrepreneur and how to avoid them:
- Lack of knowledge about the product and the customer
“Understanding your product may seem like an obvious task, but the market is saturated with people who only care about the sale, and not about the solution that your product provides. Understanding the functions, history, dimensions and usability of what you sell brings more confidence to the customer,” adds Oliveira.
This trust translates into a good reputation for your business and, consequently, more sales throughout the customer's lifetime with the company.
At the same time, it is essential that the company invests in strategies to get to know its target audience, such as creating personas, market research, competitor analysis, trend monitoring, behavioral segmentation, personalized marketing, data analysis and continuous feedback.
- Not thinking about your online business
Regardless of the service or product you are offering, active presence on social media is extremely important. According to the Annual Trade Survey conducted by IBGE, the number of businesses with more than 20 employees that use the internet for sales increased by 79.2% from 2019 to 2022. From 1,900 enterprises to 3,400.
According to Fábio, social media today takes up a large part of people's day and often shapes consumption, whether it's choosing a restaurant that appeared on Instagram or even buying clothes that appeared in an ad before a YouTube video. For the CEO, using digital wisely can generate many leads and boost your business.
- Not counting on long-term planning
According to the BigDataCorp survey conducted in 2023, 51.15% of companies in Brazil shut down before reaching three years. This number jumps to nearly 89% after five years. Therefore, good preparation to face not only the challenges of the present but also those of the future is essential.
“The best product, the best structure and all the knowledge, although great indicators, are not synonymous with sales right away. Every business takes time to establish itself and along the way, mistakes will inevitably occur. Therefore, before starting anything, planning is a determining factor for your venture,” adds the CEO.
