1.1.2 Risk and Reward Flashcards
What are the risks of starting a business?
- Business failure
- Financial loss
- Lack of security
- Poor management
- Poor market research
- Sales lower than expected
- Start-up costs too high
- Unexpected shocks
- Too reliant on a small number of customers
- Poor quality
- Overworking/Stress
- Bankruptcy
How is poor management a risk of starting a business?
- planning is inadequate leading to poor decision-making
- costs not kept under control
- business owners or managers do not understand their market and customers well enough and/or quality of product is not provided
How is poor market research a risk of starting a business?
- market research should be carried out
- this will need to be reliable enough to predict future sales
- it is however, often not conducted as it is too expensive or, if it is completed, the data is frequently out of date or not relevant
How is sales being lower than expected a risk of starting a business?
- it is very each to over-estimate the sales that will be achieved by a start-up
- the business plan can be over-optimistic about the price that customers will accept and the volumes they will buy
How is start-up costs being too high a risk of starting a business?
- sometimes costs are simply missed out altogether or under-estimated
- this is a big concern at the start-up stage, where finance is limited
- a delayed product launch or store opening may be the cause of start-up costs being higher than expected
Examples of unexpected shocks:
- for example, flash floods that hit different places in the UK from time to time
- a new competitor entering the market
- a global recession
- a change in government
- the UK leaving the EU
How is being too reliant on a small number of customers a risk of starting a business?
- being too reliant on one or a few customers means a business is at a grater risk of failure than one which has a broader, more diverse customer base
- if the customer relationship breaks down and/or the customer stops buying the products from the business, then it puts the business at risk
How is poor quality of products/services a risk of starting a business?
persistent poor quality goods or services will ultimately “ruin” a business, as rival businesses will produce superior products that customers will undoubtedly prefer
How is overworking/stress a risk of starting a business?
risk on mental health, increasing stress levels meaning not able to focus as much on business having negative effective on quality of products/services of business reducing sales
How can you reduce the risks of starting a business?
- Business plan
- Market research
- Be cautious
- Finance with care
- Take calculated risks
- Keep costs down
- Protect
- Monitor and review
- Ensure that the business is competitive
How can planning reduce the risk of starting a business?
prepare a realistic business plan - don’t overestimate sales or levels of production
How can researching e.g. market research reduce the risk of starting a business?
market research should be valid, up to date and specific to the business’s needs
How can being cautious reduce the risk of starting a business?
the business should avoid growing too fast
How can doing finances with care reduce the risk of starting a business?
- raise sufficient start-up finance
- an entrepreneur’s own savings, shares and retained profits are safer than loans as these sources of financed do not need to be paid back
How can taking calculated risks reduce the risk of starting a business?
weigh up the possible positive and negative impacts of the risk your taking to know whether its worth it
How can keeping costs down reduce the risk of starting a business?
premises and staff are expensive - start off small (don’t try to expand immediately) and the grow business as to avoid taking out loans and getting into too much debt
How can protecting the business reduce the risk of starting a business?
a company with limited liability will protect investors which protects money used to create products/services
How can monitoring and reviewing the business reduce the risks of starting a business?
- look back and look forward
- ensure the business is on track and where it should be
- monitor finances and review the aims and the objectives of the business to assess progress
What are the rewards of starting a business?
- Profits
- Business success
- Independence
- Capital gains
- Financial security
- Satisfaction
- Success
How is profits from the business a reward of starting a business?
- money that is earned in trade or business after paying the costs of producing and selling goods and services
- income for the owner
How can capital gains be made (a reward of starting a business)?
capital gains can be made for the owner by selling the business
How is independence a reward of starting a business?
- having total control over your business
- being your own boss
- having freedom over your work
How is satisfaction a reward of starting a business?
satisfaction from building something that is successful
How is success a reward of starting a business?
financial success and fame
