Starting a new business is both exciting and terrifying. Whether you’re a sole entrepreneur, a female entrepreneur, or launching your venture as an online entrepreneur, the early days of building a startup come with a steep learning curve. Having walked though this path myself, I would be happy to share the five major mistakes I made — mistakes I regret even today — so that fellow new entrepreneurs, especially woman entrepreneurs, can avoid these common pitfalls.
1. Underestimating Capital Requirements
When I launched my first venture, I believed I had calculated everything — the cost of goods, operations, salaries, and even some marketing. But I made one of the classic startup mistakes: I miscalculated the capital requirements.A new business takes time to establish itself .And the accumulating expenses every passing day with lesser sales will make it diffficult to survive for a new startup,if they lack the proper buffer capital.
I did secure a loan, but it was not enough. The business had barely started when I realized we didn’t have enough money for contingencies or unexpected costs which we encountered. Every small hiccup felt like a mountain, and we were always firefighting instead of planning ahead.
💡 What I Learned:
It’s far better to arrange a little extra capital at the start of a new venture than to run your business with extremely inadequate finance. Lack of capital can choke a startup before it even breathes properly.
2. Not Personally Connecting with Customers and Dealers
In the early days, I relied heavily on my sales executives. I assumed they would handle client relationships while I focused on operations. That was a huge mistake.
I wasn’t personally connected with my actual dealers or customers, and as a result, I missed critical feedback, customer expectations, and market insights.
💡 What I Learned:
No matter what kind of entrepreneur you are — a social entrepreneur, a female entrepreneur, or an online entrepreneur — you must build direct relationships with your early customers, clients, or dealers. Your network and their trust are everything in the beginning.Create a marketing system in such a way that you can understand and know how your customers is really finding your products and services.If they are satistfied with you product or services or not.YOur main goal should be customer satisfaction .
3. Scaling Too Early Without a Proven Model
Another mistake I made was trying to scale too quickly. I hired too many people and expanded operations and launched to many brands at the same time without having a well-tested business model. I was more in a hurry to accomplish everything too fast ,which was not prudent.
Without consistent revenue and validated processes, the expansion becomes a burden. We ended up cutting back and retrenching, which was far more painful than staying lean.
💡 What I Learned:
First, validate your business model. Get feedback, iterate, and ensure repeatable success before trying to scale. if you are a sole entrepreneur, your time and money are even too precious to waste on premature growth.
4. Ignoring Digital Presence Early On
In my early days, I didn’t focus on having a strong online presence. I believed traditional marketing and word of mouth were enough. That mindset cost me valuable visibility.
As an online entrepreneur now, I understand the power of SEO, social media, and digital branding. Having a website and consistent online content could have brought in leads, credibility, and trust much earlier.
💡 What I Learned:
Even if you’re not selling online, build your digital footprint early. Customers, partners, and even investors will look you up. Let them find a strong, authentic presence.
5. Trying to Do Everything Myself
As a new entrepreneur, I thought I had to be a one-person army. From finance to marketing to operations — I did it all. The result? Burnout. And more mistakes.
Eventually, I realized the importance of delegating, outsourcing, and building a core team that shares your vision.
💡 What I Learned:
Surround yourself with the right people — even if it’s just a few freelancers or part-timers. You don’t have to go it alone, especially in the age of remote work and gig economies.
Final Thoughts: Learn from My Mistakes
Every entrepreneur has their own story. Mine is full of ups and downs, but these mistakes taught me valuable lessons. Whether you’re stepping in as a woman entrepreneur, building a mission-driven social entrepreneurship venture, or entering the game as a tech-savvy online entrepreneur, know this:
Mistakes will happen. But if you learn from others — and plan better — you can avoid some of the hardest ones.
✅ Here’s a Quick Recap:
- Always arrange more capital than you think you’ll need.
- Personally connect with your early customers or clients.
- Don’t scale until your model is proven.
- Start building your digital presence from day one.
- Don’t try to do everything alone.
