The 3 Biggest Mistakes Founders Make in Their First Year (And How to Avoid Them)

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Founders Make in Their First Year (And How to Avoid Them)

By Katie Turner — Strategist. Economist. Business Builder.

Starting a business is exciting — but it’s also messy, unpredictable, and full of lessons you only learn the hard way.
Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of founders, and I see the same three mistakes pop up over and over again.

If you can avoid these early, you’ll save yourself months (or years) of frustration.

Mistake #1 — Selling to “Everyone”

When you try to sell to everyone, you end up connecting with no one.
Your offer gets watered down, your messaging becomes vague, and your marketing spends more than it makes.

The fix:
Get crystal clear on your target market — not just demographics, but their exact problems, frustrations, and desired outcomes. Build everything around solving those.

Mistake #2 — Waiting for the “Perfect” Launch

Too many founders waste months polishing logos, tweaking websites, and overthinking branding — while their potential customers are buying from competitors.

The fix:
Launch now, refine later. The market will give you feedback faster than any planning session. Perfection slows momentum — action creates it.

Mistake #3 — Ignoring the Backend

Sales are exciting, but if your systems are a mess, growth will eventually break your business.
Clunky onboarding, slow delivery, and poor communication erode trust fast.

The fix:
Set up simple, scalable processes early — even if you’re small. That way, when growth hits, you’re ready to handle it.

Final Word

Business is simple — but it’s not easy.
The founders who win are the ones who stay focused, adapt quickly, and build momentum without overcomplicating things.

If you’re ready to skip the trial-and-error and start building with a proven system, join me inside Katie & Co. — where strategy meets momentum, and every session is built for real-world results.