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Business Lessons

Should You Accept Every Customer, Even When Your Gut Says No?

**Last update: November 15, 2023**

As entrepreneurs, we all know that paid customers are the lifeline of our service-based businesses. But should we just accept every paying customer without question? My answer is a resounding no, even if you’re just starting out.

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Why? Because not all paid customers are worth taking on. Some are not created equal in terms of their value, both in the beginning and in the long run. You might encounter cheapskates who are ready to take advantage of you at every turn. Sure, they’re paying, but with conditions that turn into “scope creep.” They’ll ask you to do more than what was agreed upon without paying any extra. Worse yet, they’ll try to charge back and get their money back with lame excuses or even outright lies once they’ve got what they wanted.

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Business Lessons

How to Avoid Starting a Doomed Business

**Update: November 15, 2023**

The path to entrepreneurial success isn’t always paved with good intentions and passion alone. While many self-proclaimed business gurus preach the gospel of starting a business driven solely by passion, this approach is often incomplete and potentially misleading.

Sure, passion is a vital ingredient in the entrepreneurial mix. After all, it’s unlikely you’ll sustain the energy and dedication required to run a business if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing. However, passion without a market need is like a ship without a rudder – it’s bound to drift aimlessly and eventually flounder.

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The reality is, businesses exist to serve customers. Without paying customers, there is no business. Your success hinges on your ability to identify and solve real problems for your target audience. The more effectively you address their pain points and deliver satisfaction, the more you can command in pricing.