This article outlines seven common errors first-time startup founders make when chasing initial deals, from waiting for a “perfect” product to underpricing and hiring salespeople too soon. It explains how to start selling early, set confident prices, find budget holders, listen actively, diversify leads, iterate pitches, and stick with founder-led sales until you’ve proven the motion.

• Sell before the product or deck feels ready—pitch early and iterate from real feedback instead of polishing in secret.
• Price at a level that feels a bit scary rather than defaulting to cheap $1K–$2K/month deals, and ask hesitant prospects what they'd actually pay.
• Confirm you're talking to the real budget holder by directly asking whose approval or budget line covers the purchase, not just an enthusiastic user.
• Run multiple design-partner conversations in parallel, listen 80% of the time, and hold off hiring a salesperson until you've personally closed repeatable deals.