7 Signs You’re About to Enter a Bad Business Deal

There’s still time to call it quits.

Question: What’s an early warning sign of a bad business offer/deal, and how can you avoid it?

They Dream Rather Than Do

"This isn't the case for every business, but I've come across a few startups that attempt to offer a piece of the pie 'when they hit it big"' or 'when they get funding' in lieu of paying for that essential marketing or publicity launch campaign. These 'offers' don't fly with my business model. Everyone has ideas. Execution and taking those ideas to market is crucial to success."


There's No Interest

"When you aren't able to target a certain type of audience, you know your business will likely be unsuccessful. My recommendation? Do market research. Figure out the demographics of your audience: ages, gender, locations and common interests."


They Don't Explain Their Reasoning

"Every company is different, but I have generally found that folks who rely on faulty business practices share a number of common traits. One of them is an over-reliance of concepts, like career advancement, or the insistence that they offer a great opportunity coupled with an unwillingness/inability to elaborate further."


They Make Late Payments

"We have traditionally been very careful regarding the clients we choose to work with. We carefully vet each client to ensure they are a good fit and we see strong, long-term SEO potential. Unfortunately, if your clients can't pay their bills, they may not be managing their business well, and you may be the next victim trying to collect on an unpaid balance. Don't let your clients get behind."


They're Picky

"Pickiness is probably the strongest warning sign of a bad business deal. Being picky gives you a sense of that person's personality, and it will definitely cause rifts in deals. You should look for people who are flexible and are willing to work with you. "


The Deal Seems Too Good to Be True

"Listen to your intuition. If it's too good to be true and everything seems to be moving too fast, then it's time to slow down. Plant your feet into something solid and recenter yourself and your view of the business."


Resources

7 Signs You’re About to Enter a Bad Business Deal

There’s still time to call it quits.

Question: What’s an early warning sign of a bad business offer/deal, and how can you avoid it?

They Dream Rather Than Do

"This isn't the case for every business, but I've come across a few startups that attempt to offer a piece of the pie 'when they hit it big"' or 'when they get funding' in lieu of paying for that essential marketing or publicity launch campaign. These 'offers' don't fly with my business model. Everyone has ideas. Execution and taking those ideas to market is crucial to success."


There's No Interest

"When you aren't able to target a certain type of audience, you know your business will likely be unsuccessful. My recommendation? Do market research. Figure out the demographics of your audience: ages, gender, locations and common interests."


They Don't Explain Their Reasoning

"Every company is different, but I have generally found that folks who rely on faulty business practices share a number of common traits. One of them is an over-reliance of concepts, like career advancement, or the insistence that they offer a great opportunity coupled with an unwillingness/inability to elaborate further."


They Make Late Payments

"We have traditionally been very careful regarding the clients we choose to work with. We carefully vet each client to ensure they are a good fit and we see strong, long-term SEO potential. Unfortunately, if your clients can't pay their bills, they may not be managing their business well, and you may be the next victim trying to collect on an unpaid balance. Don't let your clients get behind."


They're Picky

"Pickiness is probably the strongest warning sign of a bad business deal. Being picky gives you a sense of that person's personality, and it will definitely cause rifts in deals. You should look for people who are flexible and are willing to work with you. "


The Deal Seems Too Good to Be True

"Listen to your intuition. If it's too good to be true and everything seems to be moving too fast, then it's time to slow down. Plant your feet into something solid and recenter yourself and your view of the business."


See Also: Marketing Content to Today's Intelligent Average Consumer

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