Top 5 Obstacles to Business Growth That Might Be Holding You Back!

There are a lot of challenges you face when you’re running a small business. From cash flow issues to emergency expenses and changes in the market, financial obstacles to business growth can cause severe problems. The good news is there are a range of strategies and solutions you can use to overcome the obstacles and move towards growth.

1. Cash flow management

Healthy cash flow is crucial for every business. When a business is spending more than what’s coming in, they won’t be able to grow. All their resources goes into managing debt and meeting vital expenses and there’s no cash available for investing in long term growth strategies.

You need more money coming into the business in order to spend funds strategically. Ways to improve cash flow include streamlining your invoicing, diversifying business income and adjusting your pricing.

2. Finance reporting

Without effective financial reporting, you might not be aware of your business’ vulnerabilities. Accurate, detailed reports help businesses make better decisions based on evidence. Without data from the past, it is hard to forecast for the future and plan for growth.

Financial reporting is essential for cultivating healthy cash flow and planning for the long term. Businesses who have effective reporting systems in place are better at managing debts, identifying trends, tackling weaknesses and complying with tax obligations.

3. Access to funding 

In order to grow, you have to spend. But if all your cash is going into daily expenses, it’s impossible to invest in bigger projects and long term growth strategies. Adequate funding is one of the biggest obstacles to business growth.

Of course, not all funding solutions are equal. It’s important to consider loan repayment schedules and guarantee requirements when looking for funding. A business advisor can help you make a decision about funding that will help rather than impede business growth.

4. Unexpected challenges

A business might be doing well but if they haven’t planned for risks, they will almost certainly struggle when unexpected challenges arise. An unforeseen expense can put a major dent in your cash flow and restrict business growth.

Although no one can read the future, many surprises can be planned for. Risk management plans, budget forecasting and cash flow reserves are crucial for every business. 

5. Market changes

Markets are always changing. It is unwise to assume your business will continue to grow because it’s been successful in the past. It’s the businesses that can adapt to changes that tend to be more successful. 

Business plans should be regularly revised to account for market changes. Consider strategies such as changing suppliers, renegotiating contracts, training employees or adopting new technologies. Although change can be intimidating, growth cannot happen without flexibility, adaptability and creative problem solving.

While there are many obstacles to business growth, robust financial planning and long term business strategies can help you overcome them. At Lawrence Group, we help hundreds of businesses manage their finances and overcome challenges to maximise growth. Get in touch to see how we can help you too.

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