5 Things to Know Before You Grow Your Small Business

Being an entrepreneur is no easy task; there are a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. When I started my first small business, I had to learn a lot of things the hard way – but these hard-earned lessons gave me the abilities needed to grow my business. Originally, I had just a few team members, but I was able, with time, to expand my team into a couple hundred members across the globe! How did I accomplish this growth? By being attentive, yet patient.How to grow your small business

It is important that you take in and appreciate every decision you make; it is even more important that you focus on the people that are helping you to realize your goals. By listening to my team, I was able to give them the tools needed to accomplish their tasks and excel at their roles. And when your company is excelling, it has no choice but to grow!

When you start a small business, you are going to pour all your heart, energy and skills into it, not to mention a good amount of your savings, too – you have to if you want it to succeed. But in the beginning, you will be so focused on your vision, on the way you want your business to operate, that you may very well forget about this crucial aspect to its success: size. Knowing whether and how you want your business to grow is paramount. For example, many small businesses start out with no desire to expand, however, due to success, these companies soon realize that they can increase their profits by exploring potential growth options.

By understanding your company’s capacity to develop, you can achieve greater levels of success, and I can’t stress enough how you need to keep this in mind when creating your new business.  Always remember that, from the moment you create your small business all the way to fulfilling its long-term goals, it is never finished or complete, it should always be evolving and growing.

Now, a lot about starting a small business can be overwhelming, but that is why I am sharing five essential factors, that when examined, will help with your company’s growth.

1.  Listen To Those Around You

A lot of what makes a small business successful is listening to those around you, especially your customers. As an entrepreneur, you have to learn to be innovative and adapt to changes that will affect your customers (i.e. how you provide to them). Your customers are what will keep your small business alive, listening to them and understanding their wants and needs will help you understand how to grow your company. Whether it is adding more products or services, or offering your customers more convenience (such as opening another store or going digital), the effectiveness of these strategies will depend on what your customers are telling you. The very best way to invest in your small business is by investing in your customers.

2.   Dependable Employees Will Take You Farther

One thing that you will need to learn is that it is nearly impossible to have a successful business without help. As the owner of the company, you want to be at many places at once; it is natural for you to take control of how you want your company to look. Unfortunately, doing that all on your own is impossible; that is why having employees is crucial, especially when you are growing your small business. You can only do so much on your own before the growth stops. At such a point, you will be making just enough money to keep yourself afloat, but you will not be able to expand the business. Employing professionals that you trust, that are enthusiastic about their work, will make your small business soar like nothing else.

3.   Evaluate Your Market(s)

When you start a company, one of the main factors you have to consider is your market; this is where your product will be placed, and this is where you will study its potential, measuring its impact against the competition. As your small business starts to take off and gain exposure, your market can sometimes change. You may learn that clients outside of your original market also want what you are providing, so you may need to expand and branch out into new markets. Evaluating your current market and exploring others can widen the options that you have for growing your business.

4.   Know Your Options

A crucial factor to consider when growing your small business is to know what your options are. When you start to think about it, you need to explore all your options and only then decide which ones will be best for you your company. For instance, if you own a clothing store, would you gain more business if you opened up another store at a second location, or would launching an online store be more profitable? Knowing all of your potential growth opportunities will help you to choose the best way to grow your small business, and expand upon it in the future.

5.    Have a Solid Business Plan

The most crucial aspect of any business is having a solid business plan. Simply put, a strong strategy is a necessity when starting any business. You might even have a vision to expand your business in your original mission statement. Either way, you need to have a plan; it will act as a map throughout the expansion process and help make sure you stay on track.

Growing a small business can be scary, but keeping this advice in mind will help keep you on track and subside any fears of expansion. When you do get to the point of expansion, consult these tips and you will know exactly what to do.

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About the Author: Firoz Patel

In 2005, I founded AlertPay Inc. – a versatile and globally-used online payments solution. As Chief Executive Officer, I directed and oversaw the entire operations of the organization. I have successfully brokered the acquisition of AlertPay's strategic assets by UK-based MH Pillars.

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