5 Business Laws They Never Taught You in School

As a business owner, it’s important to not only have a strong understanding of your industry and the products or services you offer, but also to be knowledgeable about the various laws and principles that can impact your business. Here are five laws that all business owners should be familiar with:

1. Parkinson’s Law: This law states that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself a week to complete a task that could be done in a day, it will likely take you the entire week to complete it. As a business owner, it’s important to be mindful of this tendency and strive to be efficient and productive with your time.
2. Pareto Principle: Also known as the 80/20 rule, the Pareto Principle states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. In a business context, this means that a small number of factors are likely responsible for the majority of your results. By identifying and focusing on the most impactful factors, you can maximize your efforts and achieve better results.
3. Murphy’s Law: This law states that “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” As a business owner, it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected and have contingency plans in place to mitigate potential issues.
4. The Law of Diminishing Returns: This law states that there is a point at which the level of profits or benefits gained is less than the amount of money or energy invested. In other words, there is a point of diminishing returns for any given activity. As a business owner, it’s important to be aware of this law and make sure that you’re getting a positive return on your investments.
5. The Law of Comparative Advantage: This law, which was first introduced by economist David Ricardo, states that countries (or businesses) should specialize in the production of goods and services that they can produce most efficiently, and then trade with other countries (or businesses) for the goods and services that they produce more efficiently. This can lead to increased efficiency and profitability for all parties involved.  That might seem a little abstract so let me give you an example, let’s say you own a small bakery that specializes in artisan breads. Instead of trying to produce all of the baked goods that you sell in-house, you could focus on producing high-quality breads and source other baked goods, like pastries and cakes, from other local businesses that specialize in those products. This allows you to focus on what you do best and take advantage of the expertise of other businesses, ultimately resulting in a more efficient and profitable operation.

By understanding these laws and principles, you can make better informed decisions for your business and set yourself up for success