7 Brutal Reasons Your Business Is Struggling — And the Surprising Fix That Will Set You Free

Is Your Business Struggling? The Real Reason Might Shock You

Imagine this.

Kwame, a passionate entrepreneur in Accra, launches a boutique clothing store. He pours in late nights, savings, and sweat. But despite all his efforts, the business is struggling.

He blames the economy, inflation, even spiritual attacks. But what if the real enemy isn’t out there? What if the actual problem is something inside his business — something he’s been blind to?

If your business is struggling right now, this article will help you uncover the real reasons, and give you practical tools to break free — using lessons from real Ghanaian entrepreneurs.

1. Poor Financial Management Will Keep You Broke

One of the top reasons your business is struggling could be your numbers — or lack of them.

Many small business owners don’t track income and expenses properly. They mix business and personal money. They buy stock blindly and can’t tell whether they’re really making profit or just surviving.

Real-Life Example: Ama’s Kenkey Business

Ama, a kenkey seller in Kumasi, had booming sales but was constantly broke. She was unknowingly using her business income to pay personal bills — with no records.

When she started tracking daily sales, creating a simple weekly budget, and separating her personal expenses, her cash flow improved — and she even opened a second location.

Fix This: Use a notebook or app like Wave or Excel. Track income daily. Review expenses weekly.

2. Refusing to Innovate is Killing Your Edge

If your business is struggling, it could be because you’ve refused to adapt.

Ghanaian Case: The Bolt vs. Yellow Taxi Era

In the early 2000s, yellow taxis ran Accra. Today, ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber have disrupted the game. Traditional drivers who joined these apps are thriving. Those who didn’t? They’re parked or struggling to find passengers.

Fix This: Study trends in your industry. Are customers moving online? Are competitors offering delivery? Are you still operating like it’s 2003?

3. Bad Leadership Is Quietly Destroying Your Team

You don’t need to be a dictator to ruin morale. Sometimes, it’s silence. No feedback. No vision. No encouragement.

Kojo’s Startup Story

Kojo runs a tech startup in East Legon. His team was talented, but turnover was high. Why? He micromanaged everything, never praised efforts, and didn’t involve his team in decisions.

After attending leadership training and learning to trust his team, things turned around. Staff engagement improved — and so did results.

Fix This: Empower your team. Ask for input. Give feedback often. Build leaders, not followers.

4. You Have No Clear Strategy or Business Plan

If your business is struggling, you might be operating on vibes, not vision.

You can’t win a game if you don’t know the rules or what “winning” looks like.

Takoradi’s Beauty Boss: Esi

Esi owned a beauty salon and tried to offer everything — pedicure, massage, braids, facials. But she wasn’t standing out. She narrowed her focus to natural haircare after identifying local demand, and built a solid niche with loyal customers.

Fix This: Download a 1-Page Business Plan template and get clear on your goals, market, offer, and pricing.

5. You’re Ignoring the Goldmine of Customer Feedback

Are you listening to your customers, or brushing off complaints?

Tema Eatery Owner: Yaw

Yaw owned a popular chop bar in Tema. But people kept complaining about slow service. At first, he ignored them — until reviews online started dropping.

He introduced a pre-order system via WhatsApp, reduced waiting time by 40%, and saw customer satisfaction soar.

Fix This: Ask customers for feedback often — not just when they’re angry. Use Google Forms, social polls, or simply ask in person.

6. Weak or Nonexistent Marketing Is Starving Your Sales

Even if your product is excellent, you can’t grow if nobody knows you exist.

Nana’s Jewelry Business in Cape Coast

Nana handcrafted beautiful jewelry. But she relied only on word-of-mouth and random sales at church events.

Once she opened an Instagram page, used good product photos, and offered free delivery in town, her orders doubled within a month.

Fix This: Pick one marketing platform (Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook) and show up consistently. Tell stories. Show behind-the-scenes. Highlight happy customers.

7. You’re Afraid to Ask for Help or Hire Experts

Many Ghanaian entrepreneurs believe, “If I didn’t do it myself, it’s not good enough.”

But that mindset can keep you stuck.

Kwesi’s Print Shop in Accra

Kwesi ran a printing press but couldn’t figure out why profit margins were dropping. He hired a business consultant who quickly found gaps in pricing, staff productivity, and inventory waste.

After implementing just three recommendations, his monthly profits increased by 35%.

Fix This: Book a free audit with a business consultant. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is all it takes.