Every small business owner wants to start thinking about expansion when their customer base begins to grow. While an aggressive growth strategy has been known to work at several small firms, business owners need to make sure their company is prepared to take the next step. Having a few goals in mind will give small business owners a realistic idea for how they want to pursue growth. Below are a few questions owners of small firms should ask themselves when planning for expansion in the near future.

How is the business plan holding up?
After the first few months a small business has been in operation, leaders can see exactly which parts of the firm have been successful and which need improvement. Small business owners can adjust their business plan accordingly to make sure all parts of their firms are more profitable. Making the necessary changes to their plans will also help them with business budgeting in the future. Remember: The business plan is not set in stone.

How are short-term goals leading to long-term goals?When starting a new firm, small business owners should set goals directly from the outset that target objectives at least a few years down the road. It is important to celebrate short-term successes, but always keep the big-picture goals in mind. Business owners who are struggling to put their long-term objectives down on paper may want to take some time to reflect on why they started their business in the first place. What were the driving factors and what was the ultimate desired result? Developing strategies for the short- and long-term is key, but it's also important to inform staff members of these plans so that everyone is working with the same mission focus in mind.

Can the business model take on new growth?
Small business owners who are looking to take on growth need to find that happy medium between expanding at a constant rate and having the resources that allow them to continue to grow. Being too aggressive when pursuing growth can often wear out certain employees, which is why it is important to make sure that a business is in a financially and operationally responsible place to take on new customers.

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