Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

This Is the Biggest Mistake Entrepreneurs Make, According to Mark Cuban The billionaire also revealed his phone number and invited anyone to text him.

By Kyle Schnitzer

This story originally appeared on Ladders

Kobby Dagan/Shutterstock via Ladders

The biggest mistake an entrepreneur can make when launching their own business starts with money, according to one billionaire.

Dallas Mavericks owner and tech tycoon Mark Cuban dished some career advice in a podcast interview with On Air With Ryan Seacrest, where the Shark Tank star told Seacrest that the "biggest mistake" new business owners can make is thinking they have to raise money.

"I think the biggest mistake people make is once they have an idea and the goal of starting a business, they think they have to raise money," Cuban said. "Once you raise money, that's not an accomplishment, that's an obligation. Now you're reporting to whoever you raised money from."

Cuban, 61, was referring to how outside help could put a stranglehold on new business owners because when you take outside money, usually there are more voices in the room.

He advised entrepreneurs to grow a business from the ground up the old-fashioned way.

"If you can go out there and start it on your own — like I started out by selling garbage bags — whatever it is … try to find something that you can make or that you can buy yourself and sell to people around you, then ask for referrals and grow the business that way, and you can turn it into something enormous," he said.

In the interview with Seacrest, Cuban invited anyone to text him at 214-614-6002. He said he tries to respond to nearly 30 texts a day, which might be the only way you can get in touch with him.

Cuban previously said he hates phone calls and meetings because business never gets done.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.

Franchise

Subway's CEO Steps Down Amid a Major Transition for the Sandwich Giant

John Chidsey will step down at the end of 2024, marking the close of a transformative five-year tenure.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Real Estate

Why Real Estate Should Be a Key Part of Your Wealth-Building Strategy in 2025 and Beyond

Real estate remains a strong choice for building wealth in 2025 and beyond, from its ability to generate passive income to offering long-term appreciation and acting as a hedge against inflation.

Fundraising

They Turned Down an Early Pay Day to Maintain Control of Their Business. And Then Went on to Raise $190 Million.

Jason Yeh, co-founder and General Partner of Patron, explains the early-stage venture firm's creation and future outlook.