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For Entrepreneur360 'Data Champions,' Success Is Steady, Plotted and Planned These companies push forward with proven strategies to drive results.

By Entrepreneur Staff

entrepreneur daily
AlleyNYC

Through surveys and available data, we've examined hundreds of small businesses and come away with six archetypal sets of practices and characteristics that we believe are representative of most growth companies operating today.

The qualifications were simple: Companies had to be domestically owned, privately held, for-profit and have shown net capacity growth over at least two years, with an employee size in 2015 of 10 to 1,000.

Below, we examine the traits of Data Champions, one of the six archetypes of the Entrepreneur360™ Performance Index. To see the other five archetypes, click here.

The generally conservative companies in this group focus on steadily pushing forward via careful planning and data analysis, and by working hard to empower employees. The reward is continued growth and solid cash flow that enables avoiding debt.

Modest growth targets and conservative management leave Data Champions more willing and able than other types of companies to fund themselves primarily through earnings. Their focus on data can make them more prepared to meet challenges than their peers and their emphasis on treating staff well may pair with having much higher expectations of employees.

Key characteristics

  • They often emphasize a reliance on performance data, sharing it across the company to help employees at all levels make decisions.
  • They are much more likely than their peers to offer employees higher pay and a share of profit.
  • They pay close attention to planning and managing growth, looking to build a sustainable functioning business.

Takeaway

You don't have to shoot for the moon or embrace every touted management approach to be a leader. Well-established tactics such as self-funding expansion, being generous with employees, setting modest targets and keeping a careful eye on financials and other performance metrics can do the trick.

Apptopia

Apptopia

Founded: 2011
Business Type: Mobile
BombBomb

BombBomb

Founded: 2006
Business Type: Marketing
Dumbo Moving and Storage

Dumbo Moving and Storage

Founded: 2006
Business Type: Transportation
Enlisted Design

Enlisted Design

Founded: 2008
Business Type: Design
H &F Bread Co.

H &F Bread Co.

Founded: 2008
Business Type: Food
Instructure

Instructure

Founded: 2008
Business Type: Software
Kavaliro

Kavaliro

Founded: 2010
Business Type: Staffing
Myriad Mobile

Myriad Mobile

Founded: 2011
Business Type: Mobile
Orases

Orases

Founded: 2000
Business Type: Design
Reed Manufacturing Co.

Reed Manufacturing Co.

Founded:
Business Type: Manufacturing
Site Work Solutions

Site Work Solutions

Founded: 2005
Business Type: Construction
Stellarware Corporation

Stellarware Corporation

Founded: 1997
Business Type: Design
Videon Central

Videon Central

Founded: 1997
Business Type: Manufacturing/Software
WebDevelop.com

WebDevelop.com

Founded: 2006
Business Type: Web development
Work Market

Work Market

Founded: 2010
Business Type: Staffing

Read more about each archetype:

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

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