Business growth – Likened to child rearing?

Infancy – Vitality

That great idea has now become hard work.  Your business is likely to be solely dependent on you.  All available time and money is consumed by the rapid growth and you probably didn’t think it would be this tough – it is tiring but has some great moments too.  It’s also a key time to be monitoring every aspect of the business closely –including knowing your average dollar sale, sales needed, debtor days, stock liquidity, gross profit etc.  KPI’s provide an immediate snapshot of the overall performance of your company. Think of your business dashboard as your Plunket book – all new parents like to know their child is growing on a healthy curve.

Similar to a toddler learning to walk, it’s likely you’re also learning what hazards to avoid and safety measures to put in place.  

Childhood – Playfulness, Imagination and Ingenuity

The business is still very dependent on you; however, you’re breathing a little easier.  This is a great time for creativity, innovation and transformation. A time for inventive solutions for dealing with increasing pressures (you might have other ‘employees now’ too.)  

Growth usually happens in spurts; however, the business is showing signs of becoming more independent.  With growth comes the need for boundaries and operations – good systems and governance is important to ensure all those involved are heading in the same direction.  Randomly check-in on basics too, now that others are taking on some responsibility. Is your team looking after ‘your baby’ the way you want them to?

Create an atmosphere of learning – when you notice an unfavourable reading on a KPI, you have the chance to talk to the individual or team involved with that specific KPI.  This is a great opportunity for you to teach others how to do things differently and perform better in order to reach set targets. Additionally, you can analyse whether the set KPI’s are an effective measurement, or make necessary modifications if needed.  

Allow for room to upskill yourself.  Alternatively, are you ready to conceive another business?

Adolescence – Passion

A significant milestone, likely to involve even more independence – working towards others doing the day-to-day and you (as the business owner) supervising it all, giving vision and guidance from experience.   Go away for four weeks and chaos can still ensure though, you could face some big, hairy problems.

Are you working towards business maturity?   Have you developed a strategy for an exit plan?  Do you have an operations manual in place? Remember, this could still be a very dangerous phase of business – don’t get caught thinking ‘the business doesn’t need me’.  Keep your finger on the pulse to ensure things aren’t happening without you knowing about them.

Adulthood – Enterprise, Contemplation, Benevolence and Wisdom

Your business goal is accomplished.  You have people onboard who helped get you to there and you now have time to do what you love, both inside and outside the business – enjoy the fruits of your labour.  You also have a rich repository of experiences that you can use to help guide others.

Retirement

It’s time to really kick back and relax.  

What is your exit strategy or succession plan?  Have you started grooming your business 3-5 years prior to your preferred exit date?  Do you have a specific exit date? And, importantly (believe it or not) do you also have the time of day that you will celebrate this?   How will you celebrate and with whom?

Deciding the answers to your above questions are crucial.  Planning how to make your business sale ready across all key areas of strategy, marketing/branding, operations, systems, risk management, compliance and team management are key steps.

90 day planning via a CFO meeting will groom your business into one that is sought after.  More than half of NZ businesses are owned by baby boomers (aged 55-74) and they are all going to need to get out eventually.  Not all businesses will be sought after. Not all will sell. We suggest you give yourself the competitive advantage and do some planning.

Applying the child rearing analogy through to retirement is a far more desirable outcome than a premature death because you end up shutting the doors.

Don’t by the way, think you need to be older to “retire” your business via a successful sale.  There is some merit in potentially realising the hard-earned efforts before the rush occurs.

What are the similarities between growing a business and raising a child?

• Everyone has advice for you

• You spend lots of time doing research before birthing your business and during its growth

• You’ll have sleepless nights

• It’s expensive, however the investment will reap rewards (and your children choose your retirement home)

• You’ll have a roller coaster of emotions

• You’ll create new friendships

• You’ll do anything to make sure it grows and thrives

• Hopefully you’re proud of the end result when it reaches maturity

Key Advice

Just as we wouldn’t raise a child without any guidelines, always establish specific goals, which allow you to create the necessary KPI’s in order to improve the overall results of your business.

Form a strong relationship with a trusted, proactive accountant/business advisor and have fun! For more information please contact the expert contributor.