Small Business Distribution Myths You Need to Ignore

Distribution is one of the biggest challenges faced by businesses today, regardless of size. It’s particularly problematic for small businesses, many of which lack the proper resources for distributing their products in a streamlined manner. There are plenty of distribution myths flying around, too, and they don’t make things any easier for those who are already dealing with mounting challenges.

Think everything you’ve heard about small business distribution is true? Think again—here are a few distribution myths that you need to ignore.

More: Small business resource guide

You Don’t Need a Distribution Partner

There’s a very good chance that you’ve heard, at one point or another, that there’s no real need for having a distribution partner. This simply couldn’t be further from the truth. Distribution channel partners can help to enhance sales, streamline physical product management and add value to your products (installation, assembly etc.). You could technically do all of this in-house, but working with a distribution partner is almost always a better method.

You Don’t Need a Legal Agreement

With email and other tracked communications being heavily ingrained in today’s business world, it may seem as if legal agreements for distribution are unnecessary—this is not the case. A legal agreement doesn’t have to be anything too in-depth or confusing, but it does need to exist in order to protect your business. It’s best to have this drafted by a lawyer, but you can also take things into your own hands if you have experience in this realm.

You Don’t Need Enterprise Resource Planning Software

It’s not uncommon for small businesses to rely on internal spreadsheets, written documentation and other similar materials for distribution planning. These tools can certainly serve as a good start, but they only scratch the surface of distribution management possibilities. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is widely available, and choosing ERP for distribution software management can help to not only lessen the load internally, but also reduce human error to a marked degree.

You Don’t Need to Consider Entering Foreign Markets

As a small business, you may have been told that it’s best to keep things on U.S. soil until you experience significant growth, but why? There are countless scenarios in which entering into foreign markets can not only be a good idea, but significantly profitable. The idea that it’s too late to enter into the Chinese or Indian markets is unfounded—let your intuition be the judge of where your business should take you.

Small business distribution myths can distract from success, especially if taken verbatim. Always balance outside advice with a healthy dose of independent thinking. Your company will benefit as a result.

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