Small business owners able to plan for and forecast growth will be the ones that will be taking advantage opportunities when they are presented. Being prepared for growth is not  just having more products on hand when a larger customer base is expected. Growth strategies must be planned during strategic planning meetings, during which small business owners meet several members of their staff and discuss what they want to do with higher levels of revenue and more demand for their products.

Opportunities for growth are not always obvious, so small business owners need to know how to identify and seize upon these chances. Below are a few instances when employing a growth strategy may be the right move.

When customers begin to demand a product
The first thing small business owners must do after they have developed a prototype for a product is to have customers test it out and validate the concept. Once customers have approved of the product and determine that it would be a worthwhile investment, small business owners need to strike. Creating marketing strategies, hiring salespeople and building a larger inventory will help small business owners meet the increased demand for their products. Small business owners need to be able to think two steps ahead and have a plan for what they are going to do with the money when their products and revenues continue to grow.

When it's time to bring in employees with higher level skills
Small business owners who grow their firms from the ground up may not be able to recruit some of the top talent right away, but after revenues begin to increase and more customers are interested in the company, hiring more experienced workers has to be the next move. When a company is growing, budgets become more complex and there are many more financial factors that play a role. Hiring an employee that is familiar with business planning software will give small business owners some assurance that their finances will be taken care of from that point forward. Software solutions make it easier to forecast expenditures, investments and sales down the road.

When a small firm has to move to a bigger office
Many times small businesses start in someone's basement or home office in hopes that the original cost savings on office space will pay off in the long run. However, as a business and its customer base grows, so does its infrastructure and needs for suitable office space. Small business owners need to know how much money they will be able to pay for rent, as well as cash flow they will have on hand to purchase everything needed in an office, i.e. desks, furniture, computers and office supplies. Being prepared for higher expenditures can help small business owners reach greater levels of success.

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