Yes, the buck now stops with you. Technically, everything from cash flow issues to customer service problems is an issue that management — that means you — needs to deal with. But you'll also find that there are some issues that deal specifically with your management style.

If any of the following problems sound familiar, it's certainly not the end of the world. Take a deep breath, assess how much of the problem starts with you and decide how you're going to fix it. And remember: Identifying the problem means that you're halfway to fixing it.

Unrealistic Expectations

Inadequate market research can lead to wildly optimistic sales goals or customer volume expectations. You need your research to lead you to accurate estimates, not ones that are overly rosy. You'll end up with too much inventory on hand or too much debt for your sales to handle. It's also possible to overestimate your own ability to turn work around, which may put you in the position of breaking your promises to customers. Either way, you can't sustain a business when your expectations aren't realistic.

Waiting Until It's Too Late

Facing problems can be tough — you may need to acknowledge a poor decision or an element of the business that you've overlooked. Not facing problems can be even tougher, because when you finally dig into the numbers to analyze the depth of the crisis, it could be too late to save yourself. Take responsibility for both the good and the bad.

Poor Planning

Even the most brilliant businessperson will have a tough time making the best decisions without a road map. A business plan focuses your efforts, helps you measure your progress, and keeps you on budget. Don't start a home-based business without it — and once you're into daily operations, make sure that you continue to compare your progress against the plan.

Looking Too Much Like a Home-Based Business

A customer phones, and the call is answered by one of your young children who hasn't yet mastered the art of taking the message. A client drops by, and you spread his project out on the kitchen table while dirty dishes sit in the sink. Your clients might not care if you're a home-based business or a multinational as long as you're providing the product or service that they need. But if you look unprofessional, new clients will likely take their business to someone they could take more seriously.

Poor Time Management

You're busy all the time, but most of your customers are still waiting. Maybe you have more customers than you can handle — or maybe it's not the customers that are the problem. You might not manage your available time as well as you could. Keep track of how you spend your day, noting down everything that you do, and how long you do it for. You might surprise yourself with the time-wasters.

Resistance to Change

One of the most important qualities of a home-based businessperson is flexibility. If something isn't working in the business or in your management, you need to change it. Investigate how other businesses handle challenges, read business advice books from successful entrepreneurs, and assess whether you're actually holding yourself back.