What people keep running into with business development
Complaints tagged business development, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
8 recurring problems · 106 people · 13 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 47how do I get my first client?New freelancers face overwhelming and contradictory advice like cold emailing or using Upwork, while lacking the funds or local networking opportunities to get started. This leaves them stuck with zero traction and unable to break into the industry.
- 28How to start a business with no industry experienceStarting a business without prior knowledge of accounting, supply chains, pricing, or management leaves founders overwhelmed about where to begin. Without knowing standard industry shortcuts or how to source suppliers, early clients and operations become stressful administrative headaches.
- 8How do technical founders actually sell their product?Technical founders excel at building products rather than driving sales, leading to wasted months with unreliable sales partners and no closed deals. Because they are comfortable making things rather than finding customers, they struggle to get people through the door on their own.
- 8How to get business clients without word of mouthCold outreach rarely works because getting replies from unfamiliar businesses is extremely difficult without an existing connection. This leaves owners stranded once their network of friends and referrals dries up, making it impossible to generate consistent, predictable sales.
- 8How to get clients for a new accounting practiceStarting a new CPA firm is difficult because established practices for sale get outbid by all-cash offers from larger firms, leaving aspiring owners to build a client base from scratch. Without an existing book of business or an easy way to acquire one, new practices struggle to gain traction in competitive markets.
- 4What careers can I transition to from property management?Property management offers transferable skills in communication, organization, and operations, but slow career advancement and low pay push professionals to look elsewhere. Many struggle to figure out which industries value these skills for higher-paying, long-term career paths without starting over from scratch.
- 2Joint venture vs simple partnershipA joint venture usually requires forming a whole new company instead of just executing a simple partnership plan. While others pitch pooling resources to present a deeper consulting practice, the model often makes independent consultants suspicious. The main fear is that instead of growing the business, you are simply giving your network away for someone else to mine.
- 2Why can't I get property management companies to respond?Property management companies and apartment complexes rarely respond to vendor applications or award work to new cleaning and HVAC contractors. Without an internal contact or previous relationship, going to their offices only results in being brushed off with empty referrals, making it nearly impossible to break into the industry.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.