Scaling Your Business: The Ultimate Guide

Scaling Your Business: The Ultimate Guide

What Should You Focus On When Scaling Your Business? Ultimately, this is something that a lot of people ask. Because when you go from the growth stage in business to the scaling stage, it can be quite a huge jump to make. And ultimately, you are then stepping into the leader role. You’re leaving the implementing and the managing roles behind.

Scaling Your Business: The Ultimate Guide

So your headspace and your mindset and your responsibilities are actually going to be very different to what they were in that growth stage. And that’s where a lot of people fall back into that growth stage. Because they haven’t got those foundations there in order to continue with what they were doing in the growth stage. Today I’m going to give you today, my six things answers to What Should You Focus On When Scaling Your Business? So you don’t end up falling back into the growth stage. Because so many people do.

1. Sales

Ultimately, you need to continue making sales. And one of the main things that I see people doing is that they have generated really good sales. They’ve generated consistent sales while they’ve been in the growth stage. And then up level to the scaling stage. But what then has happened because they need that energy, time and headspace elsewhere in the business.

Because they are now leading it, it means that things start to fall apart in the sales side. So either your customer commitments aren’t being met. Or maybe your team have fallen apart. Maybe you are failing at meeting the customer’s expectations.

Or you’re not really in touch with the customers, as you once were. Maybe there’s been a bit of a boundaries issue there. And maybe the boundaries have not been clear when you’ve been in the growth stage. And now your customers are still wanting that same level of support or customer service that they are used to. And sometimes it can just be that maybe your projects ended.

But ultimately, when you go into that scale stage, if you haven’t got a way to keep generating sales, then you’re going to fall back. Because you’re going to then get into the state of panic about where you’re going to get your next sale from. And then you’re going to go out trying to get another sale, because you need cashflow, you need to be generating money and revenue. But then you fall back into the growth stage because you aren’t then leading the business. You’re in panic mode.

2. Leads

Very much aligned to the sales. Making sure that you are generating warm leads in your business is going to be crucial. Because if you are generating warm leads, it means you’re not going to fall back into the growth stage if you need to get some more sales through the door. Because you already have a list of people that want your thing. So making sure that you have a really good lead generation tactic in place is going to be paramount to making sure that you are comfortable in generating the leads going forwards.

3. Automating

So when you are scaling your business, as I’ve touched upon your headspace and your energy and your time are going to be elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean all the things that you were doing in the growth stage have disappeared. And you don’t need to do them anymore. It just means that you need to actually be focusing on other things in the business and other responsibilities. So making sure that you automate the process as much as you possibly can, will be crucial to making sure that you free up yourself so you can actually continue what you’re doing.

But this also doesn’t just link in with the freeing up of time. Automating also can save you money, which ultimately the difference between the growth stage and the scaling stage. You are growing more revenue without the growing operating costs. So if you aren’t automating a lot of the process, you’re going to be paying someone to be doing that process. But actually, for a fraction of that cost.

You could be automating the process and having the person focus on the stuff that can’t be automated and the stuff that matters. So then you are saving money that you would have been paying for that person to be doing and ultimately, you can then still generate more revenue.

4. Mindset

So it is really, really important to make sure that you are in the right mindset for scaling. Because it’s a really difficult task, scaling a business can be hard work. And you are going to come up against a lot of criticism, you’re going to come up against some hurdles, you’re going to come up against kind of a lot of people, maybe not even saying very nice things about you.

And ultimately, that’s because you’re going to be disrupting your market. You’re going to be leading, and you’re going to be stamping your authority over your market. Not everyone’s going to like that. And you need to be confident enough. You’re you need to have your strong mindset in place for your scalable mindset to make sure that you can handle what’s going to come at you.

So making sure that you were in a really good place to be able to handle criticism to be able to handle maybe negative things that are said about you. Making sure that you are in the best place to be able to scale your business is paramount. Because if you are not in that headspace to be able to scale your business. The things that are going to be said you may not get any negative criticism. But ultimately, the majority of the people do when they reach the scaling stage. So making sure that you can just deal with that and move on is going to be super, super important. So make sure you work on this scaling mindset before you kind of reach that stage.

5. Team

So very much linked to the automated side making sure that you have the right team in place. But they’re doing the right things. Making sure that you have your strong team that can work together. That communication is really good between them. That you can rely on them to get something done. And you don’t need to micromanage them.

That you can trust that they’re going to be able to tell you the truth. But also help you get to where you want to be. So making sure that you have the right and best team in place is essential. Because without a really good team, you’re going to fall back into the growth stage.

Finding yourself saying I’ll just get this done, I’ll just implement this, I need to manage this situation, I need to know what’s going on here. And that’s not a good place to be because it means that you end up exhausted because you’re trying to do all the things.

So making sure that you have the right team doing the right tasks.

If there’s a process that can be automated, make sure that you’re automating that process. And the team are then concentrating on the parts that can’t be automated. But then also making sure that your team is focusing on the things that matter and the things that drive your business forward.

So for instance, if you have your team members that are moderating your Facebook group, and that’s what they’re doing. But then you haven’t got a team member that’s looking at the customer service side of things, we’re kind of falling apart there. Because you need to make sure that the customer service is going to be really, really good because you want to keep your customers happy.

And the moderating of the Facebook group isn’t as important as the customer service. So creating the right customer service. And also, you may have team members that can actually do more than one thing. So if you have a team member that’s maybe doing some PA stuff, so maybe some diary management in inbox management.

Those kinds of things, that person might also be able to do some of the automating. Or they might be able to see some of the marketing or social media. So making sure that you’re utilising the team that you have already before adding new team members.

Because the more team members you have, the more managing it takes. So ultimately, the more team members that you have, you are then going to have to then look at making sure that you have a manager in place to manage the team members. And then you need to have a manager in place to manage the overall business.

6. Maintaining your scalable business systems

So a lot of people say I put my business systems in place. And either they’re not scalable business systems, or they are scalable business systems, but you haven’t maintained them. And this is something that I’m really big about. So a lot of people talk about the creation of systems, but they don’t talk about the maintaining of systems.
So creating business systems I’m a huge fan of because without business systems, you’re constantly reinventing the wheel. It’s exhausting, it’s draining, and it’s frustrating. So making sure that you have those business systems in place will literally change the way your business runs.

But if you are not maintaining those business systems, quarterly they get out of control.

So if you’ve got business systems that are there for something that you don’t even do anymore, then you need to relook at that. Because yes, don’t get rid of them. don’t delete them, but just put them elsewhere. So they’re not top of mind.

So if you want to refer back to them, for instance, it was a certain strategy that you were trying out, but you didn’t get the return back, make sure you keep the system there. Because in a year’s time, you may want to revisit that strategy. And if you do, you want to see what you were doing before.
You can then make sure that when you now do it, you put some changes in place that’s hopefully get then going to make sure that that strategy works for you. So making sure that you are maintaining systems and you’re also keeping up to date with the goals for each system.

With the system in place, making sure that you’re tracking the metrics for it.

So is it working? Is it not working? Does it maybe need some tweaking? Have you got a new tool that you’re using alongside that system, making sure that you’re keeping all this up to date means that you are ultimately then going to keep the scalable business system that’s going to grow and grow and grow and work alongside you. And ultimately become your right-hand person or system robot. However, you like to think about it.

But I hope you found this really, really helpful on What Should You Focus On When Scaling Your Business? And as always, I love to hear from you. If you have any questions, any queries around scaling your business, then do get in touch and I would love to be able to help you

 

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You're perfect for this if you have a service based business that is growing and you're future planning creating your delegateable business™ and know you don't want to suffer the common headaches many others do from lack of preparation. OR you currently delegate but need to add to/restructure your team but cannot face the carnage you have had previously and you are determind to make sure this time it is different!

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Hear what my incredible clients have to say...

Jo Oogarah – Jo Oogarah Coaching
"I have just completed the Simple Systems to Scale Group Programme and I wanted to share how amazing it has been for my business. As someone who is not naturally organised and hates anything filing etc, I was a bit wary of starting the course, especially at the start of my business journey, but it has been so useful. I now can find things easily which saves me so much time onboarding clients and keeping track of who I have spoken to. For the first time I have a proper system for all the functions of my business. I would thoroughly recommend taking this course to really start to see what is going on in your business and managing it so much more effectively in the day to day. Thanks so much Charlotte!"
CVA Associates
5
2021-11-03T20:52:54+00:00
As someone who is not naturally organised and hates anything filing etc, I was a bit wary of starting the course, especially at the start of my business journey, but it has been so useful.
Katie Carswell – Katie Carswell Coaching
"Charlotte and her team are amazing. I challenge you to find anyone as dedicated to your and your businesses success as Charlotte is. She consistently goes the extra mile, nothing is too much trouble, she really knows her stuff and has made my life so much easier, in so many ways. She really is a diamond find and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to make their business more streamlined and simpler. Plus she is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet."
CVA Associates
5
2021-11-03T20:54:09+00:00
I challenge you to find anyone as dedicated to your and your businesses success as Charlotte is.
Sarah Street – Street & Co
"Charlotte has been a great support to our business, managing numerous support services from daily admin, organising Dropbox and IT, to HR services and organising team events. We have always felt Charlotte was one of the team, even if she wasn't sitting next to us every day. I highly recommend Charlotte's skills in supporting any small business."
CVA Associates
5
2020-04-18T14:32:07+01:00
"Charlotte has been a great support to our business, managing numerous support services from daily admin, organising Dropbox and IT, to HR services and organising team events. We have always felt Charlotte was one of the team, even if she wasn't sitting next to us every day. I highly recommend Charlotte's skills in supporting any small business."
Tara Barton – Birch & Wilde
"Virtual Assistant & Online Business Management Services - Charlotte and her team are fantastic and I would now be lost without them. Highly professional, super knowledgeable, full of ideas and ways to solve problems, positive and extremely efficient and organised. I can't hesitate to recommend CVA Associates."
CVA Associates
5
2020-09-07T12:00:18+01:00
Highly professional, super knowledgeable, full of ideas and ways to solve problems, positive and extremely efficient and organised.
Jill Pringle – Brand Symphony Marketing
"I'm so glad I found Charlotte and her business CVA Associates. Charlotte is so friendly, client focused and organised in the way she runs her business, and matches clients like me with our exec assistants. If you're a business owner and need a bit of support to take away all the small, fiddly, technical tasks each week, or need help with a particular project, then the range of people and skills Charlotte can access is amazing. I got support setting up all of my GDPR processes, my CRM and Email Automations, project managing my website rebuild and then ongoing admin and marketing tasks. What's best about Charlotte is she matched me perfectly with my EA Gill, and also stays in touch regularly to make sure things are working well. A real pleasure to work with."
CVA Associates
5
2020-07-24T17:05:32+01:00
"If you're a business owner and need a bit of support to take away all the small, fiddly, technical tasks each week, or need help with a particular project, then the range of people and skills Charlotte can access is amazing."
Rose Cox – Certified Human Potential Coach, Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
"I recently had an online session with Charlotte where she walked me through her business hub set up in ClickUp. It was super useful and I came away with great strategies to implement for my own business in helping me keep everything systematised and on track, both with my goals, my overall business planning and right down to my project planning and daily task management.

I highly recommend working with Charlotte if you need someone to show you the most structured and easy to implement way to keep track of everything related to your business."
CVA Associates
5
2022-07-25T13:59:00+01:00
"I highly recommend working with Charlotte if you need someone to show you the most structured and easy to implement way to keep track of everything related to your business."
Nick Myers – Owner, Loveable
"Charlotte does so much more than keep me organised and ensure Loveable keeps its various plates spinning. She brings ideas and a point of view to the table. She’s passionate, resourceful, ever learning and such an asset I really didn’t want to make this recommendation public in case she gets too busy to continue helping me!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:50:29+00:00
"Charlotte does so much more than keep me organised and ensure Loveable keeps its various plates spinning. She brings ideas and a point of view to the table. She’s passionate, resourceful, ever learning and such an asset I really didn’t want to make this recommendation public in case she gets too busy to continue helping me!"
Tara Burgin – Owner, Active Early Years
"Charlotte is an amazing VA she is currently the P.A to Active Early Years and does a fantastic job she is always willing to help, highly organised, efficient no task too big and is very knowledgeable in her expertise always delivering at a high standard. If you want more time back in your business then Charlotte really is the answer."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:51:27+00:00
"Charlotte is an amazing VA she is currently the P.A to Active Early Years and does a fantastic job she is always willing to help, highly organised, efficient no task too big and is very knowledgeable in her expertise always delivering at a high standard. If you want more time back in your business then Charlotte really is the answer."
Helen Cox – Owner, Helen Cox Marketing
"I would highly recommend working with Charlotte. As a busy marketing consultant, I often didn’t have time to do my own marketing. I’ve used Charlotte to help with my social media, email marketing, proofreading and inbox management and she is so efficient – it makes my life so much easier. What I liked about Charlotte is that she has a background in corporate as a PA so she knows how to run everything, she’s friendly, approachable and nothing is too much effort!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:52:27+00:00
"I would highly recommend working with Charlotte. As a busy marketing consultant, I often didn’t have time to do my own marketing. I’ve used Charlotte to help with my social media, email marketing, proofreading and inbox management and she is so efficient – it makes my life so much easier. What I liked about Charlotte is that she has a background in corporate as a PA so she knows how to run everything, she’s friendly, approachable and nothing is too much effort!"
Anonymous – Nature of business
"I just wanted to let you know that already your admin support has made such a difference to me, staff members and clients. Smashing work Charlotte."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:54:35+00:00
"I just wanted to let you know that already your admin support has made such a difference to me, staff members and clients. Smashing work Charlotte."
Denise Todd – Head of Operations, Delivery Associates
"Charlotte did a brilliant job for us, helping with some rebranding work that needed to be done on a tight timescale. She understood straight away the requirement and just got on with it, which was what was needed! She supported on extensive word and ppt docs. A pleasure to deal with Charlotte and we will definitely be in touch for future support!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:55:25+00:00
"Charlotte did a brilliant job for us, helping with some rebranding work that needed to be done on a tight timescale. She understood straight away the requirement and just got on with it, which was what was needed! She supported on extensive word and ppt docs. A pleasure to deal with Charlotte and we will definitely be in touch for future support!"
Marc Goatcher – Head of, Lex Autolease & Black Horse finance
"Charlotte is a dedicated and committed p.a. and assistant. She has a fantastic work ethic and was able to adapt to the needs of the stakeholder.
She has an ability to cut through and get to the issue and solution at pace. I am sure she will be an asset to anyone that she supports."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:56:49+00:00
"Charlotte is a dedicated and committed p.a. and assistant. She has a fantastic work ethic and was able to adapt to the needs of the stakeholder. She has an ability to cut through and get to the issue and solution at pace. I am sure she will be an asset to anyone that she supports."
Stuart Beaver – Partnership Director, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is a proactive, hardworking and committed PA. Highly dependable in delivery and all round, great to work with."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:57:45+00:00
"Charlotte is a proactive, hardworking and committed PA. Highly dependable in delivery and all round, great to work with."
Robert Longhurst – Owner, Advanced Vision Care
"I cannot recommend Charlotte enough as a PA. She is ruthlessly professional and works quickly yet diligently. I trust her completely and she frees up so much of my time, I can honestly say my business is better because of her."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:58:54+00:00
"I cannot recommend Charlotte enough as a PA. She is ruthlessly professional and works quickly yet diligently. I trust her completely and she frees up so much of my time, I can honestly say my business is better because of her."
David Patterson – Partner, Optima
"Charlotte is a conscientious, diligent and hard working person who is committed to performing her role and duties to an extremely high quality. She is very punctual, is always willing to go the extra mile and is extremely dedicated and supportive."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:59:51+00:00
"Charlotte is a conscientious, diligent and hard working person who is committed to performing her role and duties to an extremely high quality. She is very punctual, is always willing to go the extra mile and is extremely dedicated and supportive."
Olivia Longson – Marketing Manager, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is an absolute pleasure to work with at Lloyds Bank. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she frequently goes above and beyond to ensure she can help. Incredibly organised and driven, charlotte has successfully managed a number of senior stakeholder’s diaries. If you want a organised, passionate & personable assistant Charlotte is your lady!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T20:00:39+00:00
"Charlotte is an absolute pleasure to work with at Lloyds Bank. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she frequently goes above and beyond to ensure she can help. Incredibly organised and driven, charlotte has successfully managed a number of senior stakeholder’s diaries. If you want a organised, passionate & personable assistant Charlotte is your lady!"
Deborah Neville – Senior Marketing Manager, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is one of the best assistants I have worked with, nothing is ever too much trouble, but she runs a tight ship and is very efficient. If it needs doing she knows how to get it done, organising large team events, meetings etc. What I have always loved about Charlotte is her ‘can do’ attitude which has stood her in good stead in her roles. I truly believe Charlotte is an asset to any company or individual that needs her fantastic skills"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T20:01:26+00:00
"Charlotte is one of the best assistants I have worked with, nothing is ever too much trouble, but she runs a tight ship and is very efficient. If it needs doing she knows how to get it done, organising large team events, meetings etc. What I have always loved about Charlotte is her ‘can do’ attitude which has stood her in good stead in her roles. I truly believe Charlotte is an asset to any company or individual that needs her fantastic skills"
Helen Cox – Owner, Helen Cox Marketing
"It was so nice to be able to have a proper break and with bringing my fantastic VA onboard she managed my emails like a pro so that I could get right back into the swing of things with no worry."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:53:29+00:00
"It was so nice to be able to have a proper break and with bringing my fantastic VA onboard she managed my emails like a pro so that I could get right back into the swing of things with no worry."
5
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CVA Associates
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