Some entrepreneurs just don’t understand. There is an inherent cost of doing business. What do i mean? Okay, I’ll get straight to it. There are two things vital to any start up company (unless your running a lemonade stand) and that’s a means of  communication and internet connectivity.  I can not recall nor think about anyone doing business with our one or the other. If you have an internet based business, you need to have a working phone and you need to maintain that account.  Even if your business is solely based on talking to people by phone, you will surely encounter a customer that will ask “do you have a website?”

Every one has heard the cliche, “it takes money, to make money” I really think whoever coined that phrase was talking about that initial investment of capital, to get a venture started and enough to maintain it until it supports itself.  I remember another cliche about impressions and it goes like this: “First Impressions Are Everlasting”;  if we apply that cliche to the day to day operation of a business, it will prove itself to be a true statement.  How you present yourself to a potential customer, will be their impressions about your company or service. If your are knowledgeable of your products and services  (and you should be) you customer will more than likely feel confident in doing business with you. Give the impression of being too hungry for their business, you will seem desperate and you will chase them away.

You must invest more than capitol in your business to make it work. Perception can be a useful tool. Not that you should try and deceive people, but for many, perception is by a large percentage a reality. If I perceive you to be a professional and knowledgeable in your skill or craft that will be my impression and therefore my reality. You are always selling, weather you realize it or not. If I see you treat another customer poorly, I may not want to recommend a friend, in fact I may not patronize your business. If you have a website, maintain it, if your cell phone is your business phone, have a professional voice mail greeting and for goodness sakes sound enthusiastic when your answer your business phone. Don’t take for granted that people ‘Will Buy’ your products and service just because you have a site or a good location, you may have to sell then on your product or service.

Some customers you will win over, other will leave and go to your competition, what you don’t want to do is drive them away or drive them to your competition. So, it will cost you, the entrepreneur something, something other than your investment of capitol. Become great at what you do and you will standout from the competition. Everybody else is good at what they do, you can choose to be great!.