Here are 4 tips to successfully grow your business.

To say that getting a business off the ground is hard work would be an understatement. Whether you’re still drafting your first business plan or recently opened your store, starting and running a business can be an exhilarating – and terrifying – experience.
Every entrepreneur wants to grow their business, but it’s critical to do it the right way: with a focus on your customers, your talent and your own humility. here are four tips to successfully scale and grow your business.

1. Accept That You Can’t Do Everything

Part of the allure of starting your own business is embarking on the exciting adventure of becoming your own boss. As a small-business owner, you’re going to have to be comfortable wearing a lot of hats – salesperson, accountant, marketing manager – but that doesn’t mean that you can (or should) do everything yourself.

Sure, you might be able to manage by yourself for a while, or maybe even thrive, but it can’t last if you want your business to grow. Knowing when to seek out talented people who share your vision is a crucial litmus test for any business owner. There’s only so much you can do on your own, so if you’ve got your sights set on ambitious growth, come to terms with the fact that you’ll need help before long.
You don’t need to relinquish any of your freedom or control to make this happen – but you do need to realize that you’re only one person.

2. Power to the people.

People are the lifeblood of your business, and it’s critical to keep it flowing. As your business grows, be sure to make people and their development part of everyone’s job, not just human resources. It’s the most important task you have.

It’s also key to work with a strong mix of internal and external talents. You need to give your talents the opportunity to grow– but at the same time you want to bring in experience and different, fresh perspectives, leveraging the mistakes other companies have made.

As you hire ambitious talents, be clear with them about what direction to take, then turn them loose and give them room to do great work. Think of this as giving your talents the freedom to run their own mini-businesses inside your organization, which compels them to make their own decisions.

3. Run the Business You Want, Not the Business You Have

Ever hear the expression, “Fake it ‘til you make it?” Well, this principle is something you should (and may need to) adopt, especially in the early days of your business.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should intentionally mislead your clients about the scope of your business or what you can do for them. I am saying, however, that until you begin to establish a reputation, you need to instill confidence in new clients. One way to accomplish this is to “run the business you want,” even if you’re not quite there yet.
This concept applies to every aspect of your business, from the language you use on your marketing materials and website to the way you greet prospective clients. If you project an air of confidence and authority when dealing with new customers, you can make a great first impression that offsets your relative lack of experience or smaller size.
You don’t have to approach every interaction like the CEO of a multinational organization, but you should think big when growing your business and make sure your client-facing materials (and employees) exemplify everything you want your business to be.

4. Don’t Dip into Your Business’ Bank Account

Once you’re up and running, it’s tempting to see your business as an extension of your checking account, but you must resist the temptation to “borrow” funds from your business or splash out on lavish expenses, at least in the early days.

Growth costs money, even for the most successful ventures. Every time you dip into your business’ funds, you’re hurting your chances for growth. Make sure you’re adequately compensated for your work, but keep your salary modest and make reinvesting in your business a top priority.
Everything your business needs to grow – space, talent, equipment – costs money, and the less you put back into your business, the slower you’ll grow. The more money you put back into the business, the faster you’ll be able to expand your operation, and the more profitable your company could become in the future.