Our new columnist David Russ, managing director of Centre for Business incorporating ngb2b, NGE and Ignite, tells us only the brave ask for help

Very rarely will you find an entrepreneur who can market their product or service effectively, handle all the accounting and manage the recruitment process without putting in 20-hour days. This is because nobody can be good at all things all of the time.

What entrepreneurs have in bucket loads is passion and confidence, and while these traits can motivate investors, staff, customers and other stakeholders, they aren't tantamount to the success of a business.

For this reason ready access to business support is vital, particularly in the early stages of a business when the balance sheet does not allow for substantial inward investment.

Outsourcing business-critical back office functions, such as HR and finance, can help to ensure that the engine of a company runs smoothly and allow entrepreneurs to drive their organisation forward.

Some business owners consider relinquishing control to be synonymous with losing control, and therefore opt to micromanage every area of the business.

This is not only a fallacy but it can also be damaging for the business, particularly when pursuing growth.

Being able to delegate responsibility is the sign of a good leader, and even if an entrepreneur doesn't employ a large number of staff, acknowledging ones weaknesses and addressing them by seeking relevant business support is good practice.

As a society we need to celebrate those who take calculated risks, and accept the inevitable mistakes that are made along the way. The industry leaders of tomorrow are already out there, and with robust business support and a little encouragement they will prosper.

1:24pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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