You may be thinking that there’s not ACTUALLY a secret to scaling your business. That there’s no magic wand to wave that will leave your business primed for growth.
Well….
I’m here to tell you there is!
No, it’s not in creating courses, membership sites, masterminds or group programs (well, not directly at least).
The REAL SECRET to scaling your business is – standard operating procedures (S.O.P.s).
In the beginning stages of your business it felt unnecessary, maybe even silly to create S.O.P.s for your business. I mean, who are you going to tell them to anyway? You’re a solopreneur hustling your butt off. Why bother if it’s just for you?
The thing is, it’s damn near IMPOSSIBLE to bring on support until you have a set of CLEAR standard operating procedures set up for your business. I will guarantee that ANY business that has successfully scaled has successfully created business systems and processes. They are the foundation for any healthy, sustainable business.
Now, yes, courses, memberships sites, etc. are certainly a good step to the one to many model, which many entrepreneurs consider when looking to scale their business.
BUT, if you can’t get your current client load and business running like a well-oiled machine, what do you think is going to happen when you throw a membership into the mix? (Chaos, anyone?)
P.S. This is assuming you actually found the TIME to build out one of these initiatives.
Skipping the oh so crucial step of creating standard operating procedures for your business is the single biggest reason you’re attempts to scale and “put on your CEO” hat are failing.
There are 3 layers used to create your business’s standard operating procedures: Business processes, tools and business values.
Business Processes
This is likely the first thing you thought of when you heard standard operating procedures – and for good reason! It’s the biggest component of business S.O.P.s or the “top” layer. Clear process (like written down!) are a MAJOR step to building a solid foundation for scaling your business.
Business processes should be:
-specific
-assign accountability
-include project milestones
<< DOWNLOAD the 7 Processes You Need In Your Business To Be Profitable. >>
Tools
The second layer of your business’s standard operating procedures are tools. Tools are what you use to execute your business processes. Your tools are things like a CRM, project management software or online scheduler. They are the software and platforms that automate and streamline your business processes making them easy to understand and execute.
Values
The third layer of your standard operating procedures are your business values. These are the guideposts you use to make decisions in your business and all contractors and employees should know them and agree with them. Standards for customer service, client interactions and marketing should be clear and referred to often. Having clear values ensures that even when you’re not available, your business is operating with the same integrity and mission as if you were.