Undoubtedly, you started your business with grand dreams of success – and now, hopefully, they’re coming true. Along the way there have probably been some adjustments – as you work toward and anticipate great things certain day-to-day tasks may take on a humbler tone.

Probably that one filing cabinet you’ve been using has been sufficient until now. The webmail interface you use can service your sole computer. 500 business cards have taken you this far; you’ve been buying your ink cartridges from your local business supply depot one at a time and, until recently, this has worked well.

However, as your business grows, so does the complexity of your day to day operations. The Dot Com industry in the early 1990s coined the phrase ‘scalability’, which is defined by InvestorWords.com as “The potential for a business or an aspect of a business to continue to function effectively as its size increases.” The bottom line is that this is not just a concept that applies to big business – all businesses need a solid plan to facilitate expansion.

Great expectations
What did you expect your main offering would be? Are you right? Perhaps as a graphic designer you expected to do a lot of print promotional material, i.e. brochures, posters, etc., however, your alliance with a web developer has meant that 75% of your time is spent creating web content. It might be time to take a step back and examine the structure of your business. Are you prepared for this shift in your focus? Do you have a plan in place that addresses the logistical concerns that come with growth?

It’s tempting when you get started to let the idea of future growth take care of itself. Since there are so many operational details to focus on in the present, it may seem that there isn’t time to think about the future. A successful business strikes a balance between these two needs.

Growth can happen very quickly and you may find yourself in need of some sophisticated processes. It will be much easier to make these business adjustments if you’ve anticipated them. It makes sense to plan for a successful future.

A fresh perspective
Take a look at your daily procedures. Start at the beginning and examine every aspect of your process – the trick is to look for and identify existing gaps. This is something that can be done at any time: ideally scalability is taken into account when you design your new business, but it is never too late to restructure. It might not be necessary to hire a business analyst – all you need is someone with the objectivity to see your business clearly. Ask a friend, a colleague or even a satisfied client to help you take a look.

The reality is that every vibrant, growing business may depend, to a certain extent, on workarounds. The filing cabinet you’ve stashed in the other room to accommodate your overflow files may be viable in the short term. However, the temptation is to let this become a permanent function.

An essential truth
Let’s face it: you are most excited by your business successes, the dynamic choices you make and your accomplishments. Day-to-day procedures, while mundane, are essential to your business’s continued growth and success. Don’t waste time getting bogged down in sloppy processes and ad hoc procedures – keeping your operations clean and streamlined will ensure that you’ve got the bandwidth available to embrace your success.

By Katie Mead