How to build a $10M business - 10 simple steps to create a multi-million dollar business

Clarke McEwan Accountants

Imagine a world in which it's easier to grow your business than you thought. Imagine a world in which just ten simple steps could help you take your business to the next level starting today.

Thanks to Dave Kerpen, CEO of Likeable Local and Cofounder & Chairman of Likeable Media, you don't have to imagine. Because he has 10 proven business strategies that have brought him massive success over the last seven years. And Kerpen shared these insights with Chad Cooper in a Tony Robbins webinar.

Here's a look at Kerpen's 10 key ways to building a $10 million business:

Find trustworthy partners

Whether it's a close friend or family member, partner with people you can trust. Most of the time, we focus on the character and virtues of those we are legally partnered with. But vetting other people and entities that you are associated with - including your vendors and advisors - is equally critical.

Create a strategy and focus

One of the biggest mistakes young business make is over-committing. They end up saying yes to almost everything and lacking a clear focus. But if you try to be all things to all people, chances are you will fail. Start with making a one-page strategic plan that forces you to focus on creating and doing one thing for one target audience. Verne Harnish's one-pager provides an ideal framework to help structure this thought process. With a singular focus, you can harness all of your energy and effort and direct it towards a specific outcome.

Say no to what's off focus

Saying no to anything that isn't in your direct line of fire may be difficult to do at first, but can actually be one of the smartest business decisions you make in the long run. Even if it means firing your own customers. Why? Because it frees you up to focus on your target, it allows for more space and bandwidth to grow, and makes you available for the yes's.

Find peer support

If you're a business owner, you know what's at stake and how much risk is involved in running a company. But how do you handle the fear of failure? Where do you go for advice and guidance? That's why finding a peer community is so important. Not only can this provide a confidential atmosphere where you can find support and valuable insight, it can be instrumental in the process of learning the most efficient and effective ways of taking your business to the next level.

Form a board of advisors

Coordinate a group of trusted mentors to counsel you on key issues in growing your business. While an advisory board may not seem like a critical component of business success, it can actually become one of your most important assets in business development - providing the strategic advice and complementary skills to take your company to the next level.

Hire slow and fire fast

The sooner you part ways with employees who aren't the right fit, the better. Most of us, however, do the opposite. We hire quickly to fill the position when we really should be taking our time to determine if the candidate has the right nature, the right personality and whether or not their core values align with those of the company. Then we are quick to let the person go, even though we know in our gut that it isn't working. By hiring slow and firing fast, you will find that it is more efficient and effective for you, your business and for that person.

Build great values and culture

Take the time to create a space where your employees want to spend their time. Think about it - you spend more of your waking hours at work and with fellow employees than anywhere or with anyone else. So isn't it worth taking the time and money to create a place that people enjoy working? What is the culture at your company? Do you have a strong set of core values and do your employees value these standards? Building a company where people want to go to work is one of the most pivotal ways to building a growing and sustaining company.

Build your brand

With social media at your fingertips, this is the single best time to build a brand online. It wasn't that long ago that you needed to hire a PR agency to create brand identity and awareness. But now, if you are determined and diligent enough, you can build a brand by creating quality content every single day and leveraging social media outlets to attract and engage an audience.

Ask for referrals

The best form of marketing is through your current customers. While this may seem obvious, most of us just don't do it. We may feel uncomfortable asking existing customers for referrals or we may not realize how powerful a marketing asset this can be. But if you don't try you won't reap the benefits. And it's actually quite simple to do, if you know how to present your products or services with certainty, and can go a long way towards building your business .

It's the people

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Don’t Let Sharing Economy Income Catch You Off Guard This Tax Time

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