Are any of these mistakes affecting your business success? Whether you are a freelancer or consultant, an online marketer or a brick-and-morter store owner, this common mistakes can hurt your business. If you want to start a business, keeping these issues in mind can increase the chances of profitability and longevity.

1. Working without a detailed business plan

Solution – 7 Steps to a Perfectly Written Business Plan

2. Not setting business goals or objectives

Solution – The Ultimate Guide to Small Business Goal Setting

3. Avoiding market research

Solution – How Marketing Research Can Benefit A Small Business

4. Not knowing who your ideal customer is

Solution – 5 Steps to Identify Your Ideal Customer

5. Doing everything yourself  

Solution – Can Small Business Owners Really Do It All?

6. Ignoring your competition

Solution – How to Deal With Competition in Business

7. Not building an email list

Solution – Why an Email List is So Important to You

8. Hiring the wrong people for your team

Solution – How to Hire the Right Person

9. Not keeping accurate and detailed financial records bookkeeping

Solution – 5 Reasons Why Attentive Bookkeeping Is Crucial for Small Business Success

10. Not following up with clients and prospects

Solution – 6 Reasons Why Business Owners Should Focus on Follow-Ups –

11. Underpricing or undervaluing your products ors services

Solution – 6 Different Pricing Strategies: Which Is Right for Your Business?

12. Not making customer service a top priority

Solution – 10 Reasons Why Good Customer Service Is Your Most Important Metric

13. Failing to utilize various marketing methods

Solution – 16 Awesome Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses

14. Doing business without a contract or written agreement

Solution – Ten Reasons Why You Need a Contract

15. Not networking with other small business owners 

Solution – The Benefits of Networking with Other Local Small Business Owners

16. Being a poor leader 

Solution – 14 Signs Of Negative Leadership (And How You Can Fix It)

17. Not reinvesting in your business

Solution – 10 Ways You Should Invest Your Company’s First Profits –

18. Avoiding the use of new technology

Solution – How Embracing Technology Can Help Your Small Business Thrive

19. Overspending and not sticking to a business budget

Solution – 6 Tips for Sticking to Your Small Business Budget –

20. Not saving money for emergencies or slow times

Solution – How to Create an Emergency Fund for Your Small Business

21. Setting unrealistic financial goals

Solution – Three Reasons Unrealistic Goals Create a Culture of Failure  22.

22. Forgetting to focus on sales

Solution – Small Business Strategies To Increase Sales

23. Having a casual commitment to succeeding in your business

Solution – Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs: Commitment

Now that you know what mistakes you are making, you can work towards fixing them. By discovering and eliminating these errors, you are in a better position to grow a profitable business.

If you think owning a business is right for you, check out Why You Should Start a Home Business.

And share some mistakes you feel you have made in starting your business.