5 Steps for Growing a Small Business Fast

Written by
Last updated on:
October 1, 2025
Written by
Last updated on:
October 1, 2025

I, along with my business partner Mike, started FullStack Labs in the living room of my house in late 2015. In just four years we’ve grown the company to millions of dollars in revenue, 80+ employees across North and South America, and hundreds of clients in a variety of industries. We owe a great deal of our success to our incredible team. But the following five principles were also instrumental to our growth.

  1. Focus on sales, to the exclusion of everything else.
    Selling is hard and often times not very much fun – who wants to hear NO all day long? So many entrepreneurs focus on everything else BUT sales and they never scale because of it. Revenue is the lifeblood of all businesses, and ultimately the only thing that matters. Your redesigned logo or new company mission statement isn't going to matter if you're out of business. So get sales working first-and-foremost, then worry about everything else.
  2. Divide and conquer.
    Don't pick a business partner with the same skill set as your own. Mike and I have complementary skills that have been instrumental to our success. I focus on sales and operations, he focuses on technology and managing our clients/projects. This division of labor has proven to be effective and efficient. If we had similar skill sets - both good at sales or both good at technology - we likely would have failed as one part of the business would have been successful, but not the other.
  3. Skip networking events and tradeshows.
    In my experience, they produce few tangible results. True, it's much more fun to attend an industry cocktail hour than make cold calls, but don’t be tempted. Stay in the office and pick up the phone.
  4. Business plans are a list of things that are never going to happen.
    Don't waste time building one, five, or 10-year business plans. You’re not psychic and you can’t predict the future. Decision making is often clearer in hindsight. So, trust yourself. Make the best decisions you can with the information you have and execute. Then, measure the results and adjust as necessary. Have a bias towards action, not planning.
  5. Prioritize revenue over profit margin.
    New business owners often make the mistake of insisting on charging their clients a high hourly rate or price for their product or service. But new businesses don't have the track record of success or the brand value to charge a premium. They should compete on price when starting out, then raise prices after they've established themselves in the market.

These principles won’t work for every business in every industry, but I think they’re a good starting point for most businesses that are just starting out. And as businesses grow their priorities will change, and these principles may be less applicable. But if you’re an entrepreneur trying to get a new venture off the ground, keep these principles in mind.

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Frequently Asked Questions

According to FullStack Labs’ experience, sales should be the top priority when growing a small business. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and focusing on generating consistent sales early on sets the foundation for long-term success. Without strong sales, other efforts like branding, marketing, and operational improvements won’t matter.

Not necessarily. While basic planning is helpful, rigid long-term business plans often fail because the future is unpredictable. Instead, make the best decisions with the information you have, execute quickly, measure results, and adjust as needed. Having a bias toward action helps businesses stay flexible and responsive to real-world changes.

In many cases, no. While they can be fun, networking events and tradeshows rarely produce tangible results for early-stage businesses. Instead of spending time at cocktail hours or conferences, new business owners should focus on activities that directly drive revenue—like making sales calls and building relationships with potential clients.

For new businesses, competitive pricing can be more effective than trying to charge premium rates right away. Without a proven track record or strong brand recognition, offering lower prices can help attract early clients and build credibility. Once the business is established and delivering consistent results, prices can be increased strategically.

Choosing a partner with complementary skills is critical to scaling a business effectively. At FullStack Labs, for example, one co-founder focused on sales and operations while the other managed technology and client relationships. This division of labor ensures that all aspects of the business are covered and prevents gaps that could stall growth.