Growing and scaling a business is hard and we wanted to hear from business owners who have successfully scaled a business. Below, you’ll find our conversations on scaling with some very talented and insightful folks.

Nick Murtha

Long Story: Me and my business partner Anthony Mainella, put 75K in each to start the gym. We needed a 150K loan from the SBA to have enough operating capital. In 2017 South Florida was expected to get hit with a massive category 5 hurricane and the eye was supposed to come right over the gym. We had no construction insurance (we would have lost our tail) and got lucky. I had a massive laps in judgement and forgot to pay my mortgage on a home I owned in PA. They bank decided not to fund my loan. I had 10K in payroll ready to hit and 12K in the bank. I had to scramble hard to come up with 20K while I fixed the issue with the loan (That 20k bought me another month). Read more>>

Nicole Cheifetz

I started Aurora Marketing Group over six years ago and I’ve found that the key to scaling is maintaining flexibility in how I operate my consultancy. When I first stared Aurora, I knew I wanted to create something that addressed the needs of small and medium-sized CPG brands. These brands need the same breadth of marketing services as the giants, but not all the depth. Finding providers that offer a wide array of services and expertise across consumer and trade marketing disciplines is difficult for smaller brands, and hiring a full-time marketing team can be cost prohibitive. I knew that to be effective I was going to need to offer a suite of services including comprehensive work like serving as a Fractional CMO, as well as project work for one-off needs (and everything in between). Read more>>

Lisa Coons

I have had the opportunity to work at various restaurants throughout my career, where I gained experience in different roles including waitress, bartender, dishwasher, janitor, and cook. Each position has provided me with unique insights into the restaurant industry and enhanced my skills in diverse areas.

I gained an appreciation for the behind-the-scenes operations of a restaurant. I learned the importance of maintaining a clean and organized workspace, efficiently handling dirty dishes, and ensuring the kitchen kept up with the demands of a busy establishment. This role taught me the value of teamwork and effective time management. Read more>>

Jessica Mendoza

You’re absolutely right—what seems like “overnight success” is often the result of years of effort, tough decisions, and relentless determination. For me, scaling my business was a journey rooted in one key principle: surrounding myself with the right people. As one of the founders of Acute Talent, a company dedicated to finding exceptional talent for businesses, I can confidently say that the right team is the cornerstone of any growth strategy. Read more>>

Jaime Parks

When I launched American Hearing & Audiology in 2014, it was just one clinic and I was the “Chief Officer of Everything.” In those first two years, not only did I see patients, but I was responsible for marketing, sales, finances, and all business operations, including recruiting and hiring staff who shared my passion for helping patients and growing the business beyond one private practice. Read more>>

Rock Thomas

Scaling up in my career was a journey that combined mentorship, strategic action, and a relentless drive to serve others. Early on, I recognized the importance of working smarter, not just harder—a mindset shift that became pivotal in my success. In my real estate career, I achieved a significant milestone by selling 100 homes in a single year. This accomplishment wasn’t just about numbers; it was about understanding client needs and delivering exceptional value. Read more>>

Breana Wooten

Starting in a storage closet with a water heater in the corner and just enough room to fit a bed against the wall and a wax pot against the other, I had a long way to go before I would feel I had “made it” in the industry. I would work opening shifts at a local coffee shop 4am-8am and then spend the rest of the day posting on social media and waiting for people to walk in or text me for same day appointments. Read more>>

Jennifer Barnes

We have been fortunate enough to offer a service that every business needs, so scaling up was not as challenging as it is in other companies. It is however extremely challenging to surpass certain milestones in our industry, such as having more than 30 W2 employees, or providing a consistent service when you have over 100 clients. We are proud of our achievements and making it on the INC5000 two years in a row, going from $3 million to $12 million in a 5 year period, while also having high retention is something we are proud of. Read more>>

Jessie Marrero

I am a professional Photographer, specializing in Maternity & Newborn Art. I have been in the field for 17+ years now.

I am self taught. And did everything I could to familiarize myself with this world. I am passionate about new life & art, and was determined to share my love with the world.

Turning point in my career would be when I was approached by a director of marketing for a local hospital for my work. They were looking for new art to display in their units. She happened to really enjoy my creativity, and made it happen. This was truly a dream come true for a Newborn Photographer. To have my work displayed throughout the halls, for all expecting / new parents to see. Monthly it was hundreds! Read more>>

Tawana Rice

I’ve scaled up my business through an organic method that any business owner can follow. In fact, there is no formula involved. Just a simple way of life I’ve chosen to follow. I’ve never failed by treating others well, gaining their full trust, and sowing good seeds. It’s the most simplified yet rewarding way to grow your company. I learned this method of business from my mother as a child and implemented it into my adult life. If you plant good seeds, it will grow and produce great fruit! Some of these seeds will instantly; but others may take a little longer. Either way, they will harvest at the right time! When implementing this into your business, you’ll personally witness an abundance of volume and financial growth. Read more>>

Shelby & Crystal Bell-rains

What started as a recurring high thought turned into a pretty fast-growing business, since our start at the beginning of 2024! Our official launch was actually on 4/20, which we did intentionally because of our business being focused in elegant smoking experiences.

Prior to our launch, we didn’t fully know where to start since we upcycle existing materials (specifically vintage glass & decor), so we ended up sourcing at antique malls instead of building up our stash in strategic ways. Because we hadn’t figured out the best places to source, and the best places to get our supplies needed for creating our products, our profit margin was much smaller in the beginning, which made it harder to build up our inventory of product. Read more>>

Beatris Mendez Gandica

At Nuevo Foundation, scaling up has been a journey of innovation, collaboration, and staying true to our mission of making STEM education accessible to all. Here’s how we made it happen:

1. Accessible and Open-Source Content: We ensured all our resources are online, web-exclusive, and open-source, removing barriers like downloads or logins. This makes our content reusable and even usable offline. Read more>>