Controlling my business growth

[hollywogs]

My business is growing like crazy.  I had expected the first year would be really hard. I was very wrong. I have one staff person in my office. I think moving my accounting business out of my home and getting someone else in the office to help out has made all the difference in the world.  It was a hard leap to make.  I knew I could go no further with an in-home office.  I needed the professionalism and I needed the business out of my home.  Every day is a new adventure.  I've learned to say no when an idea does not fit into my business plan. Today I was approached with a thinly veiled marketing group that claimed they were a networking group but they were really a pyramid scheme selling a supplemental product. I'm not in the retail business. The answer was a firm no. 

I do a lot of networking groups. That has really helped me get off the ground and find clients. I've had to focus on groups that are worthy and not a waste of time. One I've joined is the San Antonio of Women Business Network. They are a national group that has many subchapters.  There is a website http://www.meetup.com/ that lists networking groups. I attend roughly two networking meetups a month.  Any more than that becomes a burden and it gets expensive to buy lunch or dinner.  It also takes a time committment that has to be weighed against actual billable hours.  I have a goal every month of what I need to produce in billable hours and what I need to do for marketing.  I also have the same standard for my staff.  This is how I control my growth.  If I don't run my business it will run me. I stick to the business plan I originally drafted 8 months ago.  There have been a few changes that benefited the bottom line.

Today a client asked me to manage his commercial office rental building. This was not in the original plan but it is a service I can easily offer as I know that industry quite well from having an apartment complex as a client for 12 years. It is a great opportunity and most of the work can be done by staff and reviewed by me.  Then the general contractor that built the office building has been contracted at one of the military bases for a commercial building that will take a long time to build.  He asked if my corporation could handle his certified payroll.  This is also a big job with very strict compliance reporting and we can certainly handle this one too.  I'm already considering adding additional staff.

Everyone thought I was nuts to start a business in the middle of a recession but I knew in my gut it was the right move. It has been so much better than I ever expected. I have a strong work ethic. I require the same from my staff.  I pay them well.  I treat them well.  I turn down the jobs that would be overwhelming and stick to what I know I can accomplish. I control my growth.

Lastly, I would love to find some other women who are serious, educated business owners to join the group I've just started.  I'm looking for women who face these same challenges.  I would love for anyone to join my group so we can help each other in the ups and downs of running a successful business.  I just started this group here so please join and give it a chance. Most of the groups I find here are trying to sell a product or suck you into a pyramid scheme.  That is not what I want.  I want intelligent, motivated, successful women who know what they are doing.  It isn't about selling our products or services to eachother but rather supporting eachother and swapping tips and tricks to better grow our own businesses.