By: John Glover (MBA)

We all know that feeling when a light bulb switches on in our heads. A great idea is born, and it’s exciting to feel motivated to try something new. Staying inspired and creative keeps the gears in your head turning, and that’s what every great business owner yearns for. Expanding your business means you have already had a successful start and are looking to reach further than you thought possible in the first place. 

There are more than 33 million small businesses across the United States. This means it takes even more creativity and inspiration to set your business apart from the crowd. Chances are your idea might have already been done to some capacity, but making it your own is what counts. When that light bulb gets switched on, it’s important to act fast and set your goals in motion. 

The reality is that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make those ideas come to fruition. Just because you come up with a revolutionary concept does not mean it will just automatically happen. You have to make a game plan, stay organized and work through the obstacles in order to expand your business successfully. Being a business owner means you have already established yourself as a hard worker, so staying passionate and positive will help turn your dreams into reality. 

Narrow Down Your Goals

You can’t have a successful business if your mission and values are not clear. The possibilities for your business expansion feel endless, but it’s important to start small and narrow down what you think is possible. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself because that could lead to failure if you think too big. 

“The key to expanding your business is having clear plans and objectives. It can be easy to get caught up in all the possibilities of how you can improve your business, but it’s important to narrow down your goals, so that you can create specific plans. Having clear plans written down can help you visualize the process that you need to follow to actually reach your goals. Transparency is the key to success,” says Corey Pearson, Chief Quilt Artist and Brand Ambassador at Linda’s.

Having clear concise goals is also important because it helps you get your whole team on board. When things are not transparent it can cause confusion and lead to errors and mistakes. When expanding your business, it means you already have a good start. You don’t want to ruin the solid progress you have already made. 

Stay Organized

Narrowing down your goals is the first step because it also helps you stay organized. Chaos can be a nightmare for business owners, so it’s important to minimize these risks. Whether it’s keeping records all in one place, keeping your employee training up to date, or even just scheduling out tasks and goals, staying organized makes the ship stay afloat. 

“Things can get complicated when working through a rebrand and it’s easy to stray from the overall mission of the company. Put a system in place that keeps all avenues in check, and make sure to communicate with your team. Your business cannot expand if your team is not aligned,” says Pearson. 

Not only does it help business processes run smoothly, it helps you as a business owner feel more in control of the things around you. When you decide to expand your business, it’s important to keep everything you’ve built thus far as calm and collected as possible. Staying organized keeps things on track for both you and your customers. 

Jump Through Hurdles

The road to expansion will most likely be a little rocky. You are heading into uncharted waters, so it’s okay to expect a few bumps in the road. It’s how you stand up from these setbacks that matter. Having a good team and support system around you to help you stay focused on your goals and keep things running is necessary for success. As a business owner, you should be able to rely on people while also being a leader and model for them. Having a positive attitude throughout the process will keep spirits high and motivate people to work through negatives. 

What ideas do you have to expand your business, and how can you ensure you reach your goals?

Published By: Aize Perez