All small business owners reach a critical point where the founder has to decide whether to keep things as they are or take the next steps towards growing the business. This can be a tricky time – do you hire employees? Move premises? Buy new equipment? Invest in better systems? And how do you make sure you are taking an over-arching strategic view to help boost up your business growth, rather than getting tied down in trying to do everything yourself?
Our 2-minute checklist will help you see how you could achieve faster small business growth.
Take our improving business growth test now to see how you’re handling the challenges of business growth. Scores are at the bottom and will let you see where you might be able to invest in your business.
I am ready for my business to grow over the next 12-24 months
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
I feel that I should be planning more strategically for the future
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
I have a vision for my business, and a plan that sets out how that vision will be achieved.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
(If you have employees) I have shared my vision and plan with my employees and engaged them with the process.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
I need more time to work on the process of business growth, rather than worrying about everyday tasks.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
I know I am taking on too much by myself, so I don’t have time to plan the next steps.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
I know what my strengths are, and that these are the areas where I should be concentrating my efforts in order to grow my business.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
The biggest barriers to my small business growth plan are internal – including things like staffing, space, capital investment, marketing and planning.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
If I had someone I could trust with certain key tasks, I would feel relieved.
• Strongly Agree (4)
• Agree (3)
• Neither agree nor disagree (2)
• Disagree (1)
Results
If you scored mostly 3 and 4, you understand that your business is ready for the next steps, and you’ve started to make some progress. You now need to take a step back and assess the best way to move forward so that this next stage is well managed. Planning and monitoring business growth is the key to success.
If you scored mostly 1 and 2, you sound like you are in control of and understand your business as it currently stands – but bookmark this blog and come back in six months’ time to see if things have changed.
Of course, successful growth of a business is a long-term project, and might require help from a range of sources, from a personal coach to professional business services. To begin with, perhaps all you need to do in order to boost up your business growth is delegate some of your everyday tasks to a business admin support service or a time virtual assistant, leaving you free to concentrate on expanding your reach and winning new customers.
Whatever stage you are at, if you think we could help, or you’d like to know more about our UK based virtual assistants feel free to call us on 0800 994 9016 or use our contact form in the menu above.