Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. As my recruitment firm reaches its 30-year milestone, I realize I am one of the lucky ones. Turning an enterprising idea into a profitable venture with staying power is no small feat, and I've had my share of challenges along the way. But thanks to the advice from other successful owners and learning from my own mistakes, I've been able to grow despite the obstacles. Whether you looking to start up or already have an existing business, here are five tips to ensure your success: 1. Find your niche The premise of every successful startup is to do something different or better. But don’t stop there. Keep perfecting your idea so that you become the leader in your industry. When drafting my firm’s business plan, I realized there was only one recruitment model based on the compensation variable. I set out to do something different, and brought a new recruitment model to the market. By setting up a unique model to find and court candidates, my business was able to serve our clients as well as carve a niche within the field.