Beyond the Startup: Building a Scalable, Sustainable, and Socially Impactful Business

​The startup phase is all about testing ideas and getting your business or ministry off the ground.  You are the key person and the success of the business or ministry often depends on you and a few employees. But, as you consider where you want to be in the future, how might you position your company for growth?

At the Simmons Strategy Group, we encourage our clients to structure their businesses and organizations to be scalable, sustainable, and socially impactful.  But, what do we mean by this? 

Scalable
A business is scalable when it has the systems and structure to grow at an exponential rate.   Key components of a scalable business or ministry are:

1. Products and services that can easily be replicated and provided to larger audiences.
2. Streamlined systematic and repeatable processes and procedures that help you get work done faster.
3. Technology and tools that help you personalize and provide a great experience.
4. Systems that allow you to add resources as demand increases without causing unnecessary stress to the entire platform.
5. Metrics that help the leadership teams keep an eye on what is working and not working.  

 
At infancy, most businesses are not setup to be scalable.  But without careful consideration of a growth strategy, the startup can end up being the same size with limited capacity to grow.
 
Wise business owners recognize the potential for an inflection point and they invest in their people, processes, and infrastructure ahead of time to strengthen the foundation for growth. For founding leaders, it requires a shift in mindset.  The job of the business owner or ministry leader changes from running everything to leading, evaluating options, and structuring the business for growth.
 
If the business owner is unaware of this needed change, they will inhibit growth and the organization will grow stagnant and struggle when the opportunity for growth arises.  The aware leader can take note of this growth obstacle and make the appropriate preparations to step their organization up to the next level.  
 
Sustainable
When we refer to sustainability, we use it to describe a business that remains relevant to customers and generates revenues for generations to come.  It leaves a legacy that meets customer needs from generation to generation.  
 
A sustainable business has several characteristics

1. The company actively seeks to meet changing customer needs and tastes.
2. The company actively seeks to maintain a strong cash position and low use of debt, but is willing to make the necessary investments for growth.
3. The company takes care of its employees and makes the effort to provide a positive working environment.  Employees are pleased to work with the company and find it a pleasure to serve.
4. The company maintains its reputation and guards it well.
5. The leadership cultivates the next generation and instills positive values in employees and upcoming leaders.  
6. The organization considers the impact of what it does beyond the bottom line - caring for its community, being environmentally conscious, and providing quality products and services.
7. The company is uniquely positioned in the minds of consumers and stands out among competition.

 
Socially Impactful
As organizations grow in size and revenue, they also grow in influence and in their ability to tackle issues beyond their core operations. Many sponsor local community initiatives or offer their employees paid opportunities to volunteer.  But what does it look like to be a socially impactful organization?

A socially impactful business or ministry often has all or some of the following characteristics: 

1. Able to be generous and support philanthropic initiatives.  They are sometimes able to press into and fund specific initiatives that would otherwise go unfunded.  
2. Shines as a light in darkness and stands out among others because of the good it does.
3. Creates meaningful products and services that solve real problems.  
4. Creates meaningful, well paying jobs and provides benefits for employees.  This reduces stress for employees and makes life better for them and their families.
5. Does not over tax volunteers.  It avoids burn out by balancing the load placed on volunteers, being responsive, and ensuring that volunteers aren't out of balance (life balance) because of their service.

 
Many of our clients have a purpose for their business or ministry that goes beyond generating money.  They want to provide a useful product or service, express God-given creativity, or generate wealth that takes care of their family and gives them the ability to be generous.  We enjoy working with these leaders to shape their strategy and ultimately the future success of their businesses and ministries.  
 
To learn more about becoming a scalable, sustainable, and socially impactful business, contact us or visit our website at SimmonsStrategyGroup.com.

​originally published July 5. 2017

by Pearlina Simmons