Developing a business growth strategy and growing your business

When you're looking to grow your business, it's essential to have a clear strategy and plot what you're going to do and when. There are various options when it comes to building a growth strategy, including increasing market share or entering into a joint venture or partnership. Read our guide to find out more.

• Increasing market share
• Joint venture
• Factors affecting business growth

 

Increasing market share

Assess your core customer base and look to tap into other groups, including those of your competitors. Look at the characteristics of your product or service - is there anything that marks it out from the competition that you could use to attract new customers and make your existing ones more loyal? How effectively are you matching your product or services to customers' needs? If you find that you are losing customers, carry out some research to see why this is happening.

• Consider your core customer base - can you increase levels of loyalty?
• If customers are leaving or only buying once, find out why

 

Joint venture

Joining forces with another business, either through a joint venture or partnership, can help you tap into new markets and customers. You'll also have more resources available and have access to a larger skills base. If you choose this route, you'll need to think carefully about who your partner with and ensure you have a contract or agreement drawn up. Both parties need to benefit, and most joint ventures are carried out by those businesses that offer complementary services or products.

• Joint ventures can give you access to new markets and customers
• Look to link up with a business that has services or products that are complementary to your offering

 

Factors affecting business growth

Developing a growth strategy often requires additional finance, but there are other factors you'll need to consider. These include whether you are likely to need more staff, and if so, what skills they need to possess. You might need to identify new training opportunities to help existing staff to meet your growth plans. On a more practical level, you might need to look at larger premises or new IT systems.

• Carry out an assessment of your business' existing resources - are they able to match your growth plans?
• Are staff experienced enough to deliver on your growth strategy?

 

Resource: Smith & Williamson offer a free 'Road Test' service for growth companies where they review key areas of your business in a one-to-one meeting.

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