Mistakes are almost inevitable in every entrepreneur’s journey.

Although, being an entrepreneur sounds exciting… It can quickly become a lot when the errors begin to kick in.

You hire the wrong person. Trust the wrong partner. Burn money on the wrong thing. It happens.

I’ve made a few painful mistakes myself—like spending months perfecting a product no one wanted. It felt productive. It wasn’t.

But here’s the thing: you can learn faster if you know what to watch out for.

In this post, I’ll break down 9 real-world mistakes that many entrepreneurs make (including me), and how to steer clear of them before they blow up your progress.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” — keep reading.

Because this post might save you months of frustration.

9 Big Entrepreneur Fails That Could Break Your Business

Mistakes don’t mean you’ve failed—they mean you’re doing the work. The important part is learning and adjusting before they drain your time, energy, or cash.

1. Choosing the Wrong Co-Founder

It might feel like dating. But with way more on the line.

Partnering with the wrong person can ruin your business—and your peace of mind. One Redditor said it flat out: “Having a wrong co-founder!” And they’re not alone. It’s a common, painful story.

I’ve seen it too. A friend of mine brought on a close buddy as a co-founder. They never talked values or expectations. Within six months, one wanted to scale fast while the other just wanted steady income. Guess what? The business crumbled.

How to avoid it:

• Don’t skip the uncomfortable conversations.
• Discuss your goals, values, work ethic, and decision-making styles.
• Create a founder agreement—even if you’re best friends.

If you’re unsure, it might be better to go solo (at least at first).

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2. Building Too Much, Selling Too Little

Spending months tweaking your product? That’s not the flex you think it is.

A lot of entrepreneurs (me included) fall into the trap of “perfecting” a product before testing it. One Redditor nailed it: “80% of your time should be marketing, not building.”

I once spent three months obsessing over design tweaks. Meanwhile, I had zero customers. I convinced myself it was “important.” It wasn’t.

Here’s the fix:

• Start marketing early—even before the product is fully done.
• Talk to real users. Show them a mockup. Get feedback.
• Build just enough to test. Then iterate fast.

Your business doesn’t start when you launch. It starts when you start selling.

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3. Trusting the Wrong People

Not everyone in your corner deserves a seat at your table.

One user shared how trusting a legacy employee cost them several clients. Another talked about giving equity to someone who didn’t pull their weight. Brutal.

In my early days, I handed over a lot of responsibility to someone just because they “seemed reliable.” No vetting. No clear expectations. They ghosted halfway through a client project.

Lessons learned:

• Hire slow.
• Set clear roles and expectations.
• Don’t give away equity unless they’ve earned it (and you have a vesting agreement in place).

Protect your time and your business.

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4. Listening to the Wrong Advice

Everyone has advice. Not everyone has results.

Redditors were pretty blunt about this one: “Listening to investors.” “Listening to mentors with no real experience.” Yup.

There’s a difference between support and noise. The wrong advice can lead you down expensive paths that don’t align with your vision—or your customers.

What to do instead:

• Filter advice through your own goals.
• Ask: “Have they built something similar?”
• Learn from customers more than consultants.

It’s okay to say “thanks” and move on.

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5. Ignoring Your Gut

That uneasy feeling? Pay attention to it.

One commenter shared: “I ignored my inner voice. By the time I acted, it was too late.” That hit home for me.

I once ignored red flags with a client who paid late, made unrealistic demands, and constantly moved the goalposts. My gut told me to walk away. I didn’t. And it cost me six weeks of unpaid work.

Next time:

• If something feels off, pause.
• Investigate before committing further.
• Don’t let fear of losing a deal keep you from protecting your sanity.

Your intuition is a tool. Use it.

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6. Partnering with Family or Friends (Without Boundaries)

Business and personal life? Messy mix.

A few Redditors shared how family and friend partnerships blew up. And yeah—it’s rough when business tension spills into birthday parties.

It’s not that working with people you trust is bad. It’s that most people skip the hard conversations upfront.

What helps:

• Put everything in writing—even with family.
• Define roles clearly.
• Set rules for resolving disagreements.

If you can’t talk about money and equity now, wait until you can.

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7. Trying to Do Everything Yourself

Wearing all the hats? You’ll burn out. Fast.

One comment said it best: “Trying to do everything myself slowed growth. Now I delegate fast.” Been there too.

At first, it feels smart to save money by doing it all. But eventually, you realize you’re the bottleneck. Your to-do list grows, but your business doesn’t.

What to do:

• Identify your “$10 tasks” vs. “$1,000 tasks.”
• Outsource the stuff that drains you.
• Focus on strategy, sales, and growth.

Growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most.

However, if hiring is to expensive for you at the current state of your business, you should read my article on systems for small business administration. It would definitely assist you in reducing stress long-term.

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8. Ignoring Early Feedback

You don’t know better than the customer. Even if you think you do.

A user shared how they lost time and sales by ignoring early feedback. Same here.

I once launched a course without validating the topic. I assumed I knew what people wanted. Turns out, they didn’t. Zero sign-ups. Painful—but valuable.

Here’s what to change:

• Ask potential customers what they actually need.
• Run a beta test.
• Be open to adjusting your idea, not just defending it.

You’re not building for yourself. You’re building for them.

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9. Scaling Too Soon

More clients. More services. More chaos.

One story stood out: A founder tried offering too many things at once—without the systems or clarity to back it up. The business stretched thin and couldn’t deliver on any of it.

I’ve felt that too. Taking on too many projects because I didn’t want to say no. It backfired. Deadlines slipped. Clients got frustrated.

What works better:

• Master one offer before adding more.
• Build systems before scaling.
• Ask: “Can I deliver this well without burning out?”

Saying “not yet” is sometimes the smartest business move.

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Final Thoughts

Being an entrepreneur means you’ll mess up. That’s part of the deal.

But if you can learn from others’ mistakes—and your own—you’ll recover faster, grow smarter, and build something that actually works.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Be picky about your co-founder.
• Start selling early.
• Don’t hand over trust too fast.
• Take advice with a grain of salt.
• Trust your gut.
• Set boundaries with loved ones.
• Don’t do it all alone.
• Listen to your customers.
• Don’t scale before you’re ready.

Which one of these mistakes have you made (or almost made)?

👇 Drop a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear your story.