When businesses are covered in the media, often there is a lot of focus on the initial idea, the genesis moment. Then they almost brush over the middle part – the scaling up part – and arrive at how big and awesome the business is today. It makes for a fun read or in the case of a movie or show an entertaining watch, but it’s also a missed opportunity. The middle part – the scaling up part is where so many small business owners get stuck. It’s the part so many of us need more guidance with and so we wanted to get conversations going on the topic of scaling up.

Laken Alexandra

Scaling up for LA Creative took a lot of time and research. It took a few years before we could build our solid team and master the creative that we believe is best for our clients and their guests. We believe that content and graphics is the perfect match to enhance the quality of our business. We spent a lot of time on social media marketing and web design. Read more>>

Addison Davis

Before I dived into photography, I was at a really hard place in life. I went into college with goals set, an action plan, and an idea of what my future would look like. After two years into college, I had a lot of challenges that I was personally facing, and decided to move home and had absolutley no clear vision of the future. I felt really loss during this time. I actually got into insurance and photography around the same time, and while they are two seperate businesses I feel like they correspond a lot. Read more>>

My story began as a child I always had an interest in music but I was never sure of where I would fit in as far as how I wanted to be involved or on the scene. i ventured out between audio prodution and even writing music but it didnt fit. so took a break to think and focus . Then one day I walked into guitar center to inquire about some instruments and came across the dj controller , as I began to play around with the controller I felt my brain instantly gravitate to the controls and lights on the board. Read more>>

Noel Muse

It is found in almost every great book about growth. Change is the breading ground for growth. If you refuse to change you will not grow. I am forever looking at what can we change and how we can make our services something that matter. Read more>>

Jen Nylin

Jenny in the City began in the basement of our small South Minneapolis 1915 house in the winter of 2017. I worked years in retail and after staying home with my youngest knew I wanted to start my own business, but didn’t have the funding or time to start big. So I started small with a little investment on my credit card. Read more>>

Ticara King

How did I scale up? I would say consistency. I knew what I wanted and I just stuck to it. I started catering during the peak of covid and everyone thought I was crazy. But I saw a market that I could tap into which was being a private chef. Many restaurants were either closing or had very extensive rules which made it harder for people to have their normal events. I began offering PRIVATE DINNER DATES, giving my clients the full restaurant experience in their homes. Read more>>

Elizabeth Liu

I’m super grateful in the fact that this is the year I feel like I’ve finally found my clientele and groove in the wedding industry. This business has been 8 years in the making, and my game plan in scaling my business was fully based on establishing good connections with my clients, and performing at my best so that those who see me in passing are also interested. Read more>>

Sierra Lawson

Building my business has been a piece by piece adventure. I started making small digital marketing campaigns in 2015 for a friend who owned a tanning salon. She was looking for eye catching posters for a fundraiser and didn’t have the time to dedicate to the task. I created and advertised 23 posters and campaigns for the event, from there, Sienic Designs was born. Since then Sienic Designs has worked with over 120 small businesses, and maintains a monthly book of 65 clients. Read more>>

Evan Nierman

Since 2011, I have transformed Red Banyan from a one-man operation into an international communications organization that delivers results on challenging and impactful issues for clients across the United States and all around the world. Today the company has 30 full-time employees spread across every time zone with millions of dollars in annual revenue that continues to grow. Read more>>

LaTonya Mosley

How did I scale up my business? In 2020, when I made the decision to officially retire from my full-time government job and really dedicate myself to my business, I had to make some dramatic changes. I invested in myself and business by learning as much as I could by taking a multitude of training. I invested in two different mentors. Yes two, each mentor brought so much knowledge and assisted in my growth. Read more>>

Tyler Reid

Eminent Events constantly strives to scale up in all circumstances because we know that the journey is what really brings out the best in us. In the beginning phases of my business, I wanted Eminent Events to be a solid reflection of myself which would include (but not limit to) how family oriented I am and how modern my approach is when booking new clients and events. Read more>>

Mariam Saifan

It’s crazy to think that I have been passionate about photography for over 15 years! When people ask about how I started my business, I tell them it’s been 15 years of consistency in the making! When I bought my first camera in 2007 and travelled abroad, I loved being able to tell stories and learn more about people around the world. When I studied Architectural Engineering in college, Read more>>

Janine Akers

Starting and growing a business requires these micro pockets of massive energy burn. Our experiences create thoughts that cultivate into ideas that explode into execution when they are strategically acted upon. Every risky decision comes with a moment in time that requires the decision maker to launch. The decisions are relative to the moment. Read more>>

Todd Thomas

When I first started Porta Party DJs, it was just a “one man show”. If someone wanted to book a DJ and I was available, I’d do it. If I wasn’t available, I’d refer another DJ vendor. It wasn’t after very many times of doing this that I realized I was losing out on business and giving money/opportunities to my competition. I decided that I would be a “yes man”, and from there, Read more>>