Separating small business facts from fiction

According to the Kauffman Foundation, more Americans decided to launch their own small businesses in the past two years than at any other time since 1996, and approximately 565,000 small enterprises were founded each month last year.

The Christian Science Monitor notes that prospective entrepreneurs should be aware that some common perceptions related to small business are little more than fallacies.

First, it takes more than just one good idea for a company to be successful. Typically, a business must build upon and adapt its original product in response to the market and customer demand. Additionally, small business marketing is an important component of a startup's success, and entrepreneurs shouldn't subscribe to the "If you build it, they will come" mentality.

In order to attract a customer base, business advertising must be leveraged. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that the U.S. Postal Service recently relaxed its bulk mailing regulations. Now, carriers will deliver up to 5,000 pieces of advertising material a day that isn't directed to a specific name and address, eliminating the need for small business owners to purchase mailing lists.