People get into business with high expectations, but if things should fail, far too many new entrepreneurs lack a backup plan.

People get into business with high expectations, but if things should fail, far too many new entrepreneurs lack a backup plan.

Always have an alternative lest things fail to go as planned.

Do not limit yourself to one role. Learn to do many things at the same time and do not keep all your eggs in one basket.

Busi Ntuli of Flexi Personnel says: "Surround yourself with people who know more than you to succeed."

If you hire people make sure they are essential to your business and are competent, or you will be paying others for nothing and doing everything yourself.

Know what will happen if you fall sick or have to be somewhere else.

Complacency is dangerous in business. Even at the top of the game you can never forget that competitors are always waiting for you to make a mistake so that they can eliminate you.

Never take your competitors lightly.

Monitor what your competitors are doing and make sure you do it better.

Do not settle for good enough, but always demand excellence.

Customers care only about good prices, good service and good products.

Remember, you are in business to sell goods or to provide services to your customers.

Without your customers you have no business. So make sure that once you have attracted customers you work hard to keep them.

Good customer service should be a key aspect of your business. If you do not follow through with your customers they will find someone who will.