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.

Sabrina Carey

Once I moved to NYC I committed to posting consistently and to find the best of the best spots in NYC. Read more>>

Geoffrey Kyd

I believe I truly scaled up kydshots through my character and interactions with clients, for example always making sure I give clients my all when shooting so with that they recommend me to others or become returning clients. I think your character is very important when starting out a business in which involves you interacting with people often I also would say my use of social media helped a lot, early on I put my all into posting consistently on all my platforms, I feel like having some good quality work up shows people what you are capable of and gives your audience something new to look at frequently Read more>>

Greer Consulting

When we started Greer Consulting in 2021, we brought with us two distinct networks, complementary skill sets, and a shared vision for our style of approaching Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) work. Both of us had spent years building relationships in different spaces—nonprofits, universities, corporations—but it wasn’t until we combined forces that our business began to rapidly grow. Read more>>

Benjamin Strong

When I started my photo and video business, it was just me, my camera, and a dream. Scaling up wasn’t about flashy marketing campaigns or overnight breakthroughs—it was about people. Relationships have always been at the heart of my business, and as I grew, so did my network of clients, shooters, and collaborators. Early on, I realized that no matter how talented someone was, teachability and consistency were key. I’ve worked with shooters who weren’t the strongest technically, but their willingness to learn and adapt made all the difference. Investing time in training and building trust with them not only improved the quality of our work but also created a sense of camaraderie that our clients could feel. Read more>>

Dante’y Buiturida

I’ve been so lucky to be able to photograph this incredible game professionally for the past seven years, though much of that time was spent supporting myself financially. For the first five years in Portland, I funded my photography completely out of my own pocket—from travel expenses to camera gear. I poured everything I could into my passion, often balancing it with a full-time job. Then, the NWSL came into the picture. Photographer Nikita (aka kryptobanana), referred me to the league, and from that point, things began to change. Working with the NWSL has allowed me to upgrade everything from my camera bodies to my laptop and more. Finally getting paid for my work has made a huge difference, not only in improving my gear but also in helping my photography reach a wider audience. Multiple clients have found my name because of photos spread online since then. Read more>>

Na’ziya Lewis

Consistency, consistency, consistency. That’s the only way you will ever be able to grow. Alot of people tend to give up the first time something doesn’t work, but nothing happens overnight. I had to be willing to apply myself, willing to learn and be teachable. As a business owner, you have to know your business inside and out. This way, you’ll be able to see what is, and is not working for the growth of your business so you can adjust and move accordingly. One thing I will say is very important with any business, is networking and marketing. Not every opportunity is just going to come to you, sometimes, you have to put yourself out there and seek them. Don’t be scared. And stop comparing yourself, or your business to the next person(s). Whether you are running a business of the same sort or not, not everything will work for everyone! You need to do your own research and find what would be best for you going forward. Read more>>

Remington Lyman

My company has grown significantly over the years. We started with just two agents in 2019 and have expanded to 39 agents today. Key factors that contributed to our growth include the use of virtual assistants, effective technology, and well-defined procedures. You can hire a virtual assistant for as little as $3 an hour. The virtual assistants who have been with me for years are now earning $10 an hour, which is a great wage considering the cost of living in their regions. They are very happy to work for this rate. VAs have strong work ethics, excellent language skills, and I believe VAs perform better than most local assistants I’ve worked with in the past. However, it’s important to note that even the best employees can only be as effective as the procedures they follow. I created detailed procedures that allow someone to manage my book of business while I’m on vacation. These procedures cover any questions that might arise, ensuring that the person covering for me has the necessary information. Read more>>

Melissa Tate

Scaling up is such a fun topic because it reminds me of all I’ve done in the past—what I became good at and what I was able to let go of. I am owner and co-owner of a few businesses but the scale up has been the same for all of them. I learn how to do every part of the job that needs to be done and then I see what I love doing, what I’m good at doing, what I don’t love doing and what I’m not good at doing. Everything in the “what I’m not good at” gets immediately outsourced. Or is at least top of the list for when I can afford to outsource. From there “what I don’t love doing” gets outsourced. The goal is to only be doing what I love and what I’m good at. Read more>>

Ashley Wilson

I started with an idea. I knew there was a need for home staging in Denver. I had 20 years of experience under my belt. I’ve been designing homes throughout those years. I was also a Gallery Director, Visual Merchandiser, Prop Fabricator and Creative Artist working along some amazing artists. I realised it was time to apply my variety of skills and open a home staging business. I started with 3 storage units full of furniture. Our units kept getting broken into so we took 1000 sq foot cage in a warehouse close by. From there Refresh Denver took off! I had the mentality that “leap and the net will appear.” Word of mouth is what grew our business. We now inhabit over 10,000 sq ft in that warehouse and are in our fifth year of business! Read more>>