Creating your micro-enterprise seems to everyone. However, between simplified approaches and the reality on the ground, the gap is often greater than it seems. Many self -employed people have disappointments not for lack of competence, but by ignorance of what this status implies concretely. Certain errors, repeated from one sector to another, slow down or condemn projects, however promising.
A sloppy economic model from the start
Too many micro-entrepreneurs launch out without having clearly defined their income model. It is an obstacle that William Berrouet, founder of custom studio, met at his beginnings. Its graphic design activity is based first on occasional services, without loyalty strategy. He quickly had to review his approach by establishing monthly subscriptions to guarantee revenue recurrence. An evolution that allowed him to stabilize his cash and grow his activity.
Confuse turnover and real income
The Shine platform, which supports the self -employed in their management, reports that one of the most common pitfalls in its users is not to anticipate social and tax charges. In 2022, a survey of their members showed that a in two micro-entrepreneur had not planned a budget for periods without activity. Shine now offers a “provision account” function, to prevent this confusion between invoicing and net income from jeopardizing the viability of the project.
Neglect administrative management
The status of micro-entrepreneur does not exempt from minimal accounting rigor. Many professionals find themselves penalized for billing errors or declaration oversights. The Tiime company, publisher of independent management software, has built its growth on this problem. It offers tools specifically designed for micro-enterprises, after having identified that almost 40 % of novice users made at least one declarative error per quarter in the first year.
Want to manage everything alone, without delegation
Launching its solo activity does not mean doing everything without help. Pili, a French brand of natural care, experienced a first phase of difficult growth. Its founder first took care of everything, from the formulation to the expedition. By joining the livementor support program, she outsourced part of her logistics and recruited an administrative assistant. Result: a decisive time saving to refocus on product development and distribution.
Accept unfavorable conditions to “make yourself known”
Many micro-entrepreneurs accept underpaid contracts, thinking that this will help them build a reputation. The freelance Fair, an event organized by Malt, brings together self -employed each year around this problem. During a round table in 2023, several stakeholders spoke of their debut made of missions at broken prices. One of the recurring recommendations is to establish structured quotes from the start, accompanied by general conditions, even for simple missions.
Forget it continuously prospecting
Based on one or two regular customers seems comfortable, until one of them stops collaboration. It is a teaching that Marine Aubonnet, brand strategy consultant, shares in the freelance Talk modules, where she intervenes. After losing two major customers the same week, she implemented a continuous prospecting strategy via Linkedin and online interventions. In six months, it doubled its customer base, with a more diverse and less risky portfolio.
Ignore the training
The vocational training offer for micro-entrepreneurs is abundant, but few take advantage of it. OpenClassrooms offers modules entirely funded by the CPF, often ignored by the self -employed. The company published in 2023 a report stressing that the freelancers following at least one training per year generate an average of 27 % additional turnover. However, many only request these devices.
Deprive yourself of a professional network
Isolation slows down the progression of many micro-entrepreneurs. The hive, a national incubation network, supports the self -employed on the structuring of their activity, commercial development and access to new professional circles. An internal survey carried out in 2022 has highlighted that entrepreneurs accompanied within their programs reach stable profitability twice as fast as the national average.
Lack vision on future evolution
Too many micro-entrepreneurs remain focused on everyday life, without medium-term development plan. The daring incubator, a national program carried by the hive, specifically supports entrepreneurs on this point. One of the key steps of support is to consider changing status, the development of a scalable offer or the integration of external resources to structure growth.
Wait to be in trouble to seek help
There is no shortage of support structures, but they are often used too late. National platforms such as Bpifrance Creation, Adie or the digital services of Chambers of Trades and Crafts offer free tools to avoid errors from the launch. Access to diagnostic resources, simulators and webinaries is possible from the project design stage, but is too often ignored.
