Start Your Own Business How to avoid six classic start-up mistakes
Dec 16, 2025
Jenny Bracelin, business adviser and serial entrepreneur who has started five businesses, shares practical advice on avoiding classic startup traps. She talks about testing ideas before launch, knowing your customers, pricing to cover real costs, managing cash flow and bookkeeping, and simple sales and payment tactics. Short, actionable tips on systems, local marketing and protecting your business when sales are slow.
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Tablecloth Startup Pivot From Customer Calls
- Jenny started a tablecloth hire business at 23 after an accident redirected her career and discovered she loved business.
- She cold-called potential customers, learned they wanted basic delivered tablecloths, scrapped her original plan and rebuilt to match demand.
Test Market Before You Sign A Lease
- Do test-market your idea before committing to expensive premises or stock.
- Use market stalls, pop-ups or simple customer calls to validate willingness to pay and refine the offer (Innocent Smoothies tested with festival cups).
Customers And Pricing Are The Two Core Failings
- Two recurring startup failures are not knowing what customers want and pricing too low.
- Founders often under-account for running costs and set prices that don't cover true business expenses.