5 Musts to Prepare a Business for a Major Growth Spurt Expansion takes time and careful planning. If growth is rushed, quality may go down and control may be lost.

By Zach Cutler Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Business growth usually doesn't happen overnight. Expansion takes time and careful planning. If growth is rushed, quality may go down and control may be lost.

My company, Cutler PR, has been working hard to constantly improve our service offerings, develop a sound and scalable infrastructure, build a strong marketing program, establish a great reputation in the industry, and most importantly, keep clients happy. All of these elements have allowed us to enter a major growth spurt.

Related: 5 Big Problems to Look Out for in Your Startup's First 3 Years

Here are some lessons we've learned from the process and would like to share:

1. Strengthen products and services

The product or service is the lifeblood of a business. Without a solid product or service, a business cannot grow.

Gauge the health of the product or service with customer feedback. Listen to what clients have to say and make changes accordingly.

Clients with glowing references can powerfully demonstrate the value of the product to future customers as the business expands. When the business has a lot of happy customers or clients, it's probably ready for growth.

2. Build a stable infrastructure

Businesses that fail to establish a sound infrastructure will crumble under the pressures of expansion. The infrastructure needs to function well at the business's current size and be able to scale to accommodate growth. Having clear, defined processes and systems is the key.

Have a set system for how each part of the business is done, and lay out the roles and responsibilities for various employees.

With predetermined processes and a solid infrastructure, adding a large amount of new customers or clients won't be as difficult.

Related: 8 People You Should Hire to Grow Your Startup Fast

3. Recruit a great team

One person cannot do everything. As the business grows, more and more tasks will need to be accomplished, and if one person is doing all the heavy lifting, the expansion may quickly lead to burnout.

Instead, build a team that is professional, that makes good decisions under pressure, and that can help grow the company together. Take the time to truly find the right people to work with and allow the team to shine.

4. Polish the appearance

As the business enters a growth spurt, more leads and potential customers will compare the company against competitors. The company's presence needs to make a great first impression.

Invest in creating marketing materials and polishing existing materials, such as the company website. Brochures, proposals, slide decks and other materials should look professional and communicate what the brand is all about.

5. Target new business

New customers and clients won't magically find the company. The engine of growth is pursuing new clients and bringing in new business. Invest plenty of time and money into marketing and sales to get the company name out there, attract new clients and fuel growth.

What do you think? What's the most important thing businesses can do to prepare for a growth spurt? Let us know in the comments section below.

Related: 4 Ways to Balance Urgency and Innovation in Your Startup

Zach Cutler

Founder & CEO, Cutler PR

Zach Cutler is an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Cutler PR, a tech PR agency in New York and Tel Aviv. An avid tech enthusiast and angel investor, Cutler specializes in crafting social and traditional PR campaigns to help tech startups thrive.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Branding

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity for Your Early-Stage Startup

Branding might not be your first priority, but neglecting it can hurt your startup. A strong brand identity early on sets the stage for marketing success.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.