Many new startup businesses who want to develop their software may face several failures. Understandably, developing startup software is not an easy thing, especially when dealing with software problems. Thus, a startup business owner needs a professional to work on such projects.
However, hiring an expert is not the only key to solve startup software issues. In this case, you may want to learn what the common mistakes are, so you would not need to deal with the same problems. In this article, you will learn some of the common mistakes when developing startup software from a business expert who has more experience to handle many companies to avoid your company sinking before it launches.
Employ a Dull Hiring
The skill of hiring and firing is two things you will need when it comes to startup software. You cannot hire family and friends unless they have skills. If they cannot do a good thing, then like it or not, you have to fire them to keep your company going.
Another dull hiring decision you shouldn’t make is to hire inexperienced developers for your critical project. You might hire an intern at the local college, but the intern should be sophisticated, highly skilled, and content. Those criteria indeed are hard to find in a college student. Besides, you still need a developer on the team to guide the intern. Otherwise, you’re just wasting a lot of time training someone who won’t do anything for your small business. Your time is too valuable to spend it getting a person up to speed on crucial features.
Therefore, it would be best to hire an experienced software developer who can stick to the schedule. Ensure they have left your previous managers and executives satisfied. Although they’ll cost more, they’re worth every penny.
Try to Look Bigger
Do not let yourself fall into the trap of trying to look like a big company. It will sink your company boat seriously. In this case, it would be best to focus on who you want to reach. Selling software to a large company may require human resources you don’t need. Larger companies are risk-averse when buying critical software, and if you seem too small, they will probably ignore you.
However, there is a case where a small company with only two employees sold some enterprise-grade software to a big company since it is the only company that has the software. The latter was critical. In this case, the small company also has a strong support company to promote the software. From this experience, it is best to note that there’s nothing wrong with expanding capital to get a big fish, but it doesn’t make sense to attempt the impossible, like taking a project that will eventually fail. Don’t waste your money trying to look great. Be professional, yes, but anyone who cares about how “big” you are will give you more trouble than you’re worth.
Forget to Make Money
You’re indeed trying to change the whole world, save the whales, or make an impact on society. However, if you don’t remember that you are worth more, you will fail. It may sound pretty unpleasant, but it’s true, and you may find out sooner rather than later. No one knows what your goal in life is. In case you forgot, you’re struggling to make a profit. When you start a software technology company, it can be about many things other than making a profit, and these are your personal or business goals. However, your company must make more money than it spends, or it will cease to exist.
You will discover a lot of hobbyists hoping to market the software packages they have created. Many of these programs are very useful, attractive, and well designed. Many software entrepreneurs have built great products but haven’t made a dime. When asking them a fundamental question, “Who is the customer?” they hesitate and can’t answer. The vast majority haven’t thought pf this question, and many don’t even try to answer them. All they do is tinker with their creation, maximizing the shiny product that will never make them a dime.
