Let’s be honest—growth is exciting. Growth is what you want, right? Who doesn’t want more customers, bigger profits, and a thriving business?
Maybe … but sometimes scaling up without sorting out your current issues is like trying to fill a leaky bucket. You’ll just end up in an even bigger mess. It’s VITAL before you hit the gas on growth, it’s crucial to make sure your business is ready to handle it.
Let’s dive into why fixing the cracks in your foundation is the smartest move you can make—and how to do it.
1. Stop the Money Leaks First
If your business is losing money, scaling up won’t fix it.
In fact, it’ll just make the problem worse.
Think about it: if your costs are too high or your pricing is off, the 2 BIGGEST elements of PROFIT, getting more customers will mean you’ll be losing more money faster.
What to Do:
Carpet cleaning is a HIGHLY PROFITABLE business, so you MUST focus on improving your margins before you start chasing more sales.
Take a good, hard look at your finances or ask us to give you a 30 minute coaching session. Where’s your money going? Are there unnecessary expenses you can cut?
Adjust your pricing to make sure you’re actually making a decent profit.
2. Get Your Processes Running Smoothly
If your operations are already a bit chaotic, adding more business will only turn that chaos into a full-blown disaster. For example, if your team is struggling to keep up with orders or customer service requests now, imagine what’ll happen when you double your workload. Spoiler: it won’t be pretty.
What to Do:
- Streamline your processes. Are there tasks you can automate or simplify?
- Invest in tools or software that make your team’s life easier.
- Develop a system which gets the right results every time. When I developed my own systems my whole business life changed!
- Make sure everyone knows their role and has the training they need to handle more work.
3. Build a Team That Can Handle Growth
Your team is the backbone of your business. Even if it’s just you and your wife, if they’re overworked, undertrained, or just not the right fit, scaling up will only make things worse.
For example, if you’re running a restaurant and your kitchen staff is already stretched thin, opening a second location is a recipe for disaster.
What to Do:
- Check in with your team. Are they happy? Do they have the tools and support they need?
- Do your team feel they can come to you with ideas, or problems?
- Hire strategically. Don’t just fill seats—find people who can grow with your business.
- Invest in training so your team is ready to handle the challenges of scaling.
4. Fix Customer Retention Issues Before Chasing New Ones
If you’re losing customers as fast as you’re gaining them, you’re stuck on a hamster wheel. For example, if your product or service isn’t meeting expectations, no amount of marketing will keep people coming back.
What to Do:
- Talk to your customers. What do they love? What’s not working for them?
- Focus on delivering an amazing experience that keeps people loyal.
- Create a retention strategy, like loyalty programs or personalized follow-ups, to keep your customers happy.
- Develop the best referral scheme you can, or copy ours which has brought in thousands of customers cheaply!
5. Make Sure Your Systems Can Handle the Load
Outdated systems or tools which barely work now will completely fall apart when you scale.
For example, if your website crashes every time you have a sale, imagine what’ll happen when you double your traffic.
What to Do:
Invest in scalable solutions that can grow with you.
Upgrade your tech. Whether it’s your website, inventory system, or customer service tools, make sure they’re ready for growth.
Test your systems under pressure to see where they might fail.
6. Know Where You’re Going
Scaling without a clear plan is like driving without a map—you’ll waste time, money, and energy going in circles. For example, if you expand into a new market without understanding your audience, you could end up alienating your existing customers and confusing your brand.
What to Do:
- Get clear on your goals. What does success look like for you?
- Create a growth strategy that aligns with your vision and values.
- Share your plan with your team so everyone’s on the same page.
Conclusion:
Scaling your business is exciting, but, contrary to popular belief, it’s not something you should rush into. By fixing the cracks in your foundation first, you’ll set yourself up for sustainable, long-term success.
Remember, growth should amplify what’s working—not what’s broken, so take the time to get your house in order, and you’ll be ready to grow with confidence.
