Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#1

Post by Tinned_Tuna » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 5:16 AM UTC

We only hear about the successes, but I would like to know what took your business down. Why did it fail.

Perhaps, by bringing this data together like accident investigation reports, we can find the common thread.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#2

Post by muzani » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 5:23 AM UTC

There's a very similar thread here just last week: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19141968

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#3

Post by greenyoda » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 5:41 AM UTC

muzani wrote: post #2

There's a very similar thread here just last week: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19141968

That thread seems to be mostly about personal failures rather than businesses failing.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#4

Post by a_lifters_life » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 1:10 PM UTC

My first failed cause I listened to people who told me to not continue, and lacked a deep enough network, while trying to pay my day to day bills out of pocket. I should never ever have.

On the cusp of creating another.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#5

Post by Opportunity007 » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 1:20 PM UTC

My business failed because I’m unintelligent, lack business acumen and do not have a good network.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#6

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#7

Post by jf22 » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 3:03 PM UTC

1. I wasn't a professional and had no ability to act like a professional while creating quotes or selling my services. 2. My co-founder lied and didn't manage the marketing spend for ten months while saying he did. 3. Php Scripts that aren't Wordpress Plugins are hard to sell. 4. I shut down a website after calling off a wedding and being too emotionally drained to work on it.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#8

Post by kirubakaran » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 3:54 PM UTC

Successful businesses are all alike; every failed business is a failure in its own way.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#9

Post by tinktank » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 4:17 PM UTC

Opportunity007 wrote: post #5

My business failed because I’m unintelligent, lack business acumen and do not have a good network.

Be gentle with yourself. Be gentle.

Re: Ask HN: Why Did Your Business Fail?

#10

Post by FaisalAbid » Thu, Feb 21, 2019, 1:47 AM UTC

Opportunity007 wrote: post #5

My business failed because I’m unintelligent, lack business acumen and do not have a good network.

This is false. It's not about being intelligent, it's about being resilient and open to learning.

Everything starts with 0, and everyone can learn.

I'd be happy to chat with you 1-1 and talk you through this.