Why business growth is difficult

By:

Gregory Kirkham

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Growing a business is no easy feat. In fact, according to a study by the University of Nebraska, only 50% of businesses make it to their fifth year. So, what separates the businesses that fail from the businesses that succeed?

There are a number of factors that can contribute to a business's growth, but difficulty scaling is often one of the biggest hurdles companies face. When a company isn't able to efficiently scale its operations, it's difficult to maintain profitability and expand into new markets. Let's take a closer look at three reasons why business growth is difficult.

Reason #1: Difficulty Increasing Production

One of the most common problems businesses face when trying to scale is an inability to increase production quickly enough to meet demand. If you're not able to produce enough product to meet customer demand, you'll likely lose out on sales and market share to your competitors.

There are a number of reasons why production might not be able to keep up with demand, including:

Lack of skilled labor: If you don't have enough qualified workers, it will be difficult to increase production. You may need to invest in training or recruiting new employees.

Limited space: If your current facility isn't large enough to accommodate additional production, you'll need to either find a new location or build an extension onto your existing facility. 

Lack of funding: If you don't have the capital necessary to increase production, you may need to seek outside investment or take out a loan.

Reason #2: Inefficient Supply Chain Management

Another reason business growth is difficult is inefficient supply chain management. A company's supply chain includes all the steps involved in getting a product from the manufacturer to the customer, including purchasing raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and warehousing. 

If any part of the supply chain isn't efficient, it can hold up production and lead to lost sales. To avoid this problem, it's important to continually assess and improve your supply chain management processes. One way to do this is by using data analytics to track KPIs such as inventory levels, delivery times, and order accuracy. By understanding where inefficiencies exist, you can make changes that will improve your overall supply chain management.

Reason #3: Poor Customer Service

Another reason business growth is difficult is poor customer service. If customers are unhappy with your product or service, they're likely to take their business elsewhere. To prevent this from happening, it's important to deliver excellent customer service at every stage of the customer journey. This includes everything from providing helpful information on your website and responding quickly to customer inquiries on social media  setting appropriate expectations  delivering on promises  following up after purchase  and more. 

There's no doubt about it—business growth is difficult. But by understanding some of the common problems companies face when trying Not every company is able to raise capital to successfully overcome them., but those that do are well on their way to long-term success and well-positioned for long-term success.

WRITTEN BY:

Gregory Kirkham
TRUSTED BY LEADING BRANDS

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