When you first go into business, you often have lots of visions and ideas about what you want to do and the things you want to achieve. It can be scary and exciting at the same time. So much so, that you can even be a little naive. Because compared to gaining experience and running your own company for a number of years, you’re always going to be a little naive. But sometimes, it can lead you down the wrong path.
This is definitely the case when it comes to bad business practices. It’s important to recognize that corrupt practices destroy industries so that you can have no part in it. Sometimes, you find yourself on a slippery slope without really knowing how you go there. So if you want to ensure that your business operates above board at all times, these ideas should help.
Shutterstock Licensed Photo – By SFIO CRACHO
Be Financially Transparent
The first way to ensure that you always stay on the right path is to be transparent with your finances. Although you may not want to disclose the ins and outs of your personal finances with the entire world, you should look to be as honest and upfront as possible. This means you’re going to want to work with a good and honest accountancy firm to ensure that you’re following the right practices, paying the taxes you own, and generally operating as a responsible business.
Hire People You Trust
From here, your next job is going to be to surround yourself with the right employees. It’s important that you hire employees you can trust. You should always know what your employees are doing, and be able to trust that they aren’t conducting business badly. Because even if you make every effort to practice responsibly, they may not – and that could put your business in jeopardy.
Source Ethically
Sometimes, your poor choices can be as simple as working with the wrong suppliers. Not only may customers care about your ethical sourcing practices, but you should always try to do good by the world. This means playing fair and not causing harm. So, be sure to do your research when selecting suppliers, and treat them well.
Compete Fairly
Next up, we need to talk about how you handle your competition. Because there’s a right way, and a wrong way, of going about it. Although you may feel like you should partake in anticompetitive practices, don’t. They’re not only illegal, but they are not good for business either. You’re much better off competing fairly and doing so in good faith.
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Don’t Succumb
Above all else, you need to stand your ground when it comes to what you believe in. Because you may find that, at some point during your tenure as head of your business, you feel pressure to do things that are not quite above board. Whether it’s the devil on your shoulder telling you it’s the easiest solution, or others in the industry. But you need to stay strong and ensure that you do business your way, and you’ll always do well.
