This article will help you determine if you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and give you some tips along the way.



1.Do you really have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Not everyone is fit to run a business. If you are unhappy with your current job, then you are better off looking for another one. You must honestly and thoroughly assess your strengths and weaknesses.

2.Starting and running a new business is not for the faint hearted. If you are too feeble to walk again when you have fallen, then you probably already know your fate. Being able to recover quickly from misfortunes and unpleasant surprises while learning from any mistakes will increase your chances of success. You must be determined and relentless in your quest to succeed.

3.Cut down on luxuries, holidays and nonessentials for a while. New businesses have numerous expenses that may come as a surprise to you, freeing up much needed financial resources will increase your chances of survival.

4.You need to have substantial savings to pay your bills for three full years because most new businesses take that much time to break even, and that is if they manage to stay afloat that long. You may not see any profit during that period.

5.Before hiring people to work for your business, you had better be prepared to do the donkey work, like answering phone calls, going to the post office, updating company records and etc... This will not only reduce your expenses but give you a better understanding of your business. If your computer system crashes and you lack the technical expertise to rectify it or a similar problem arises, then you need the services of a local and reliable expert who will only be a phone call away.

6.You must be a good salesman to succeed as an entrepreneur; you are in BIG trouble if you are not. Some businesses fail because the owners have come from a corporate structure were sales was someone else's job.

7.The ability to create and manage a network of contacts and connections with vendors, suppliers, potential customers and financial backers is essential.

8.Even if starting a business is your own decision, you have to discuss the idea in detail with your spouse or family. Opposition from your life partner or children can strain your business severely. They may not like the idea of coming home late as a result of long working hours or could have other reasons to hate your new venture.

9.It is wise to hire an experienced accountant to handle special and complicated tax issues for small businesses. Trying to figure it out on your own could lead to costly mistakes. Get references of good accountants and let them guide you through everything from depreciation to writing off bad debts.

10.Don't expect quick riches even if you have the most brilliant business plan. It takes many years of hard work and patience to achieve success. Maybe it is better to first secure survival of your business then go for success.

11.To succeed in online retailing you need to subscribe to a reputable directory that lists genuine factory authorized suppliers who may also be drop shippers.

12.Get the right credit card processor so that you are able to accept online payments. If you live outside the USA, you may need a processor that will remit funds to a foreign bank account. There are a handful of such companies if not only one, and that is the only one that I found after an extensive search, it is reliable, well established and reputable worldwide.

13.Choose the right company to host your website and online storefront. There are companies such as Vstore.ca that provide you with the tools to setup, customize, run and maintain a professional online store effortlessly, without cost and in minutes. Some also have a promoters forum were you can learn the best online marketing tricks and get an advantage over most online marketers.