If you are a business owner, you will have to prepare for when your business is on the verge of expanding. After all, a growing business is a successful one, so you need to invest time and effort in building a highly profitable venture that lasts in the long term. However, the road towards expanding your business is paved with challenges and risks. Apart from uncertain economic climates, you should also consider the resources and talents you need to bring your enterprise to the next level.
You need to make the right decisions and come up with an effective growth strategy, especially if it’s your first time owning a business. Here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind as you transition to greener pastures.
1. Know why you are expanding
Firstly, it’s important that you have a good grasp of the things that nurture your business. Do you have a growing client base? Does your product or service penetrate untapped needs? How is your brand image structured? You need to look inwards and find out what pushes your business forward. Along the way, you may also find plans and processes that are better off being discarded. Knowing what works and what doesn’t should help you come up with a strategy that aligns with your goals for growth.
2. Look into new markets
Have you been in your niche way too long? Diversification goes hand-in-hand with expansion, so try to explore outside your market and see what you can offer other markets. If you are a cleaning business that has served residential clients, you always have the option of expanding towards cleaning commercial spaces such as offices and stores. Doing so allows you to spread your income sources and open up new possibilities for future expansion.
3. Finance your growth
How much are you willing to invest as your business transitions to the next level? Even with a positive cash flow, it still costs a lot to grow your business. Fortunately, there are ways you can finance your expansion without so much as putting the bottom line at risk. You can always take out a bank loan or acquire a small business grant, but there is also the option of getting other people to finance your goals. Look towards angel investors, venture capitalists, and crowdfunding. The trade-off is that you need to pay dividends to people who helped fuel your growth.
4. Hire and re-train the best talents
Growth isn’t just about finding new income-generating opportunities. It also involves building a highly professional and competent team. For this reason, you will need to prepare existing employees for promotions and hire skilled and trustworthy people who can take their place as they advance. It may take time, but having the right talents assume leadership roles makes it easier for you to manage your business as newer and more complicated challenges come up. You can have your employees sign up for online training programs and attend webinars to start.
5. Branch out to a new location
Expanding to a new location allows you to grow your client base across borders. This could become tricky since you need to scout for potential space and comply with the ordinances and requirements of the community you are expanding into. You can easily work around this challenge by researching the location. Does it offer a high amount of foot traffic? Does it provide faster internet coverage? Is it conducive for your line of business? How much are you willing to pay in terms of rent and utilities? In case you are planning to expand in Los Angeles and Orange County in California, you can always reach out to companies like the Jeff Tabor Group for help in finding the best commercial spaces for setting up shop.
6. Acquire new tools
Is your business using outdated equipment and basic software? There’s a lot you can achieve if your business is equipped with the latest platforms and tools. Apart from giving your establishment a much-needed renovation and a new coat of paint, you should also look into updating your PCs and the software your employees are using. From there, you can offer better products and services to your audience.
7. Come up with better marketing strategies
As your business expands, you also need to double down on your marketing campaign. If your business grew due to your social media presence, you might want to build an official website and incorporate email marketing to your strategy. On top of that, you should invest a greater amount in content marketing. A good mix of blogs and promotional videos should help you to widen your reach and engage more potential customers for your business.
8. Monitor the competition
Never let your defenses down, even if you’re sure about your success. It’s important that you check on the competition every now and then. Your growth strategy will stall if you get left behind, so make sure to track how your competitors are performing and see if there’s anything that could become a threat to your growing business. With this information, you can easily tweak your strategy and come out on top.
9. Expand your list of networks
You can never go wrong with a support system that consists of business partners and advocates. They can help your business unlock opportunities and pave the way for further expansion. You’ll need to scout for business owners, influencers, and loyal clients who could be valuable as part of your network.
10. Take part in industry-related events
Lastly, you will need to invest in your business’s reputation and grow your influence. For this, you need to attend conferences, webinars, and live events that allow you to meet others and bring your brand to a wider audience. This could also help with building your brand and nurturing a larger client base.
Is your business expanding soon? While growth can be intimidating, having the right approaches in mind makes it possible to find success as you take on more valuable opportunities.
