Start-up coach Johan du Plessis is making a career helping hundreds of would-be entrepreneurs avoid costly errors while launching their own businesses.

His company, Corporate to Freedom, helps corporate employees with entrepreneurial dreams devise a way to leave their day job without putting everything on the line.

The Corporate to Freedom coaching program tests the viability of business ideas and helps build companies while start-up hopefuls are still employed.

The start-up fanatic may make their business dreams come true, but du Plessis says there are plenty of ways even the most passionate entrepreneur can go wrong.

The Corporate to Freedom founder points to the success of Dean McEvoy, who sold online group buying site Spreets to Yahoo for $40 million only 11 months after going live. While many entrepreneurs are inspired by his amazing start-up story, du Plessis says few people know about McEvoy's previous start-up, Booking Angel, which he put years of work into without achieving the same level of fame and fortune.

1.     If you want to start your own business, don't quit your day job.

“It gives you capital and time to build your business,” says du Plessis.

“No matter how much help you get, it always takes time and money to build a successful business.

“It will be at least six to 12 months to start making money.”

2.     Don't start with a corporate mindset.

Entrepreneurs need to have a variable mindset that allows them to keep trying new things and developing new abilities, says du Plessis. This is opposed to a fixed or corporate mindset that prevents people from going outside their comfort zone. Du Plessis says a person's mindset can dictate their level of success.

3.     Don't take large risks.

A lot of people think entrepreneurs are big risk takers, but du Plessis says the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who take small and affordable risks.

“Risk little, fail cheap and succeed sooner,” he says.

4.     Don't build a business that doesn't solve a problem.

If your business isn't solving a problem, it's not going to make any money. Any ethos behind any business should be getting people away from pain and towards pleasure, says du Plessis.

5.     Don't focus exclusively on making money.

Make your product shine first. Du Plessis subscribes to a simple business success formula created by Paul Graham, co-founder of well-known US start-up incubator Y Combinator.

Try to measure how much your product improves people's lives. Multiply it by how many people would have the problem your product solves. The result is an indicator of your company's potential value, according to Graham.

6.     Don't try to be perfect.

“So many people get stuck in analysis-paralysis,” du Plessis says.

“They get stuck trying to improve everything, they want to figure it all out and have a great fear of failure.

“It's just about getting out there quickly and reiterating as you go.”

7.     Don't make the same mistakes as other entrepreneurs.

Find other entrepreneurs who have been there and done it all before. Start following business leaders you respect on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Du Plessis says many successful entrepreneurs are happy to help others achieve their goals. He recommends sending them an email and while being respectful of their time and privacy, asking them out for a coffee to discuss ideas.

8.     Don't worry too much about the competition.

Wantrepreneurs who become consumed by the competition can be distracted from their fundamental business goals. Du Plessis says it pays to be aware of the competition but don't let it steer your company's course.

9.     When looking for business partners, don't get married after the first date.

A business partnership is a lot like a marriage, so don't make hasty decisions. Du Plessis says entrepreneurs who rush into business partnerships often get burnt.

In The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Start-Up, author Noam Wasserman discusses “king decisions” and “wealth decisions”. King decisions are made by people wanting complete control over their company, whereas wealth decisions are based on a company's growth.

Try to partner up with someone who makes wealth decisions, advises du Plessis.

10.     Don't give up.

“Just keep taking small steps every day,” du Plessis says.

“Taking action is one of the key drivers and if you're really action-oriented it will happen over time.”