Ep. 14 Ready to Scale? The #1 Thing to Do Before Growing Your Business

Growing Smart: Are You Ready to Scale? 

Welcome to the Havins Business Services Resource Guide. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series designed to help you, the dedicated small business owner, build a solid foundation for sustainable growth. We believe in empowering you with the tools and insights you need to confidently navigate your entrepreneurial journey. 

📍 If You’re Really Stretched: Start Here 

If you only do one thing this week, write down your three most frequent tasks. This doesn’t have to be perfect or formal—just list the simple, step-by-step actions you take to complete them. This single action is the cornerstone of delegation and scalability. 

1. Recognizing When It’s Time to Scale 

Before you can grow, you have to know if you’re truly ready. Scaling at the wrong time can lead to burnout and chaos. This section will help you differentiate between healthy growth and a potential spiral. 

✅ Signs You’re Ready 

• Consistent Demand: You have a steady flow of clients or a waiting list. 

• Healthy Profit Margins: You are consistently profitable, not just covering costs. 

• Team Capacity: Your current team (if applicable) can handle the existing workload effectively. 

• You’re the Bottleneck: Work piles up or stops because only you can do it. 

• Time is Maxed Out: The quality of your work or your personal health will suffer if you take on more. 

🚩 Red Flags to Pause 

• Inconsistent Revenue: Your income is unpredictable month-to-month. 

• Burnout: Exhaustion makes the idea of taking on more work feel impossible. 

• Operational Chaos: You have no documented systems—everything is done ad hoc. 

• Ignoring the Numbers: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and financial health aren’t consistently tracked. 

📋 Quick Assessment: Scaling Readiness Check 

[ ] Has revenue been consistent for 6+ months? 

[ ] Do we have healthy profit after expenses?

[ ] Do we have a system for handling inquiries and onboarding?

[ ] Do we know our biggest time drains? 

[ ] Could someone else repeat our most frequent tasks easily?

🔑 Key Takeaway: Scaling is a choice, not a reaction. You must be ready to support the growth you want.  

If you have multiple red flags, it’s not a roadblock—it’s a clear signpost! It means you have a powerful opportunity to strengthen your foundation now so your future growth will be effortless.  

💥Havins’ Advantage: We can help you pinpoint and implement the specific fixes unique to your business. Schedule a consultation with us to transform these challenges into your biggest scaling advantages. 

2. Delegation Readiness Assessment 

Delegation is the engine of a scalable business. But before you can hand off tasks, you must prepare yourself and your business for the process. 

👉 Tips for Effective Delegation 

• Adopt a “Good Enough” Mindset: Focus on progress over perfection. Your first delegation won’t be flawless. Give your team member the grace to learn and find their own efficient way to the desired outcome. 

• Start Small: Delegate a simple, low-risk task first to build confidence for both you and your team. 

• Focus on the What, Not the How: Clearly explain the desired outcome of the task, but allow the person you’re delegating to find their own path to get there. This fosters ownership and creativity. 

• Plan for a Slow Down: Productivity will slow down during the training process. Ensure you budget time, not just to teach the task, but also to answer questions and provide feedback. 

📋 Delegation Readiness Checklist: Are You Set Up for Success? 

[ ] I have a list of tasks that consume most of my time. 

[ ] I’m willing to let go of the need for perfection and trust someone else. 

[ ] I’m able to clearly communicate a process or set of instructions.

[ ] I have a way to easily share documents and resources.

[ ] I am prepared to answer questions and provide feedback as tasks are completed. 

❔ Why it Matters: Without a clear path to delegation, you will forever be the bottleneck in your business. This checklist ensures you’re ready to offload responsibilities in a way that truly benefits you and your team. 

🔑 Key Takeaway: Delegation is a skill, and like any skill, it requires practice and a strong foundation.  

Even if steps 1 and 2 showed you’re not quite ready to hit the gas on scaling, that’s fantastic! It means you can focus on building powerful, repeatable processes right now—the essential preparation that guarantees success when you are ready to grow. 

3. SOPs: Your Scaling Foundation 

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the DNA of a scalable business. They reduce errors, ensure consistency, and make training new team members easier and faster. 

📋 Quick Exercise: Create Your First SOP 

1. List your 3 most frequent repeatable tasks. 

2. Choose one. 

3. Use the simple template below while you are performing the task. 

Simple SOP Template
SOP Title:	(e.g., Client Invoice Process)
Purpose:	Why this task matters
Responsible Person:	Who completes it
Step-by-Step Instructions:	Clear, numbered steps
Notes:	Special considerations or linked resources

❔ Why it Matters: SOPs save you time, reduce errors, and are absolutely essential for training new team members. They create a consistent experience for both your team and your clients. 

🔑 Key Takeaway: You can’t scale what you can’t repeat. SOPs make your business repeatable and ready for growth. 

Your Next Steps 

• This week: Document one frequent task while you perform it. 

• By the end of the week: You’ll have your first SOP without having to set aside extra time. 

❔ Why it Matters: This one act of documentation provides an immediate foundation for delegation and scaling. It’s a powerful quick win that shows you how small, consistent actions lead to big changes. 

Continuing Your Growth 

Part 2 of this series will be great for you! We cover who, when, and how to hire (contractor, employee, or outsourced partner). We also introduce essential systems and how to implement Quality Control for your project hand-offs. 

Havins’ Advantage 

At Havins Business Services, we specialize in helping small business owners move from strategy to execution. 

🚀 If you believe you are ready to start delegating, scaling, and writing SOPs, we have more in-depth resources and industry-specific plans designed to guide you through setting up advanced systems and effectively scaling your team. Schedule your free consultation at www.HavinsConsulting.com. 

From launch to legacy—we’re here to help you scale smart.