How to grow your one-person small business

Approximately 99.3 percent of private sector businesses in the UK are small businesses according to the National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses Limited.

Additionally, three out of four (4.3 million versus 1.3 million) are non-employing, meaning that they are owned and operated by just one person.

Because this type of business requires being salesperson, bookkeeper, innovator, and more all at the same time, it can be difficult to decide how to grow your company without sacrificing a lot of already scarce time.

However, there are certain things you can do to grow your one-person small business that are more than worth the time and effort because they can provide amazing results. Here are a few to consider.

Outsource where you can

Though it may feel like you have to do everything yourself to be successful, outsourcing certain duties free up your schedule so you can handle things that only you as the business owner can do.

For instance, if you’re a writer, having someone else book appointments with interviewees or send invoices for work already done gives you more time to actually write. This alone can increase your revenue.

ProfitBooks shares that some of the activities small businesses can easily outsource include accounting and bookkeeping, tax preparation and filing, social media marketing, and any other duty you have that you’re not good at or don’t enjoy.

Additionally, there are some tasks small business owners shouldn’t outsource according to ProfitBooks. Sales, customer support, or any action related to the core competencies of your business are a few.

Find the right customers

Another way to boost your sales is to focus on finding the right customers. Customers who will not only buy from you once, but who will want to make purchases again and again.

Business strategy expert Russell Ruffino, CEO of Clients on Demand, shares that once you know exactly who your customer is, you have a better chance of creating “a jigsaw puzzle like fit” between what you have to offer and the types of products and services they need most.

So, who is your ideal customer and what problems do you solve for them? Where do they live and work? Are they single or married? What do their dreams and goals look like? Conversely, what are their concerns?

Use this information when marketing to them. Get them to understand the value you’re able to add to their lives.

Practice gratitude “with a twist”

It is often said that if you want more good things in your life, you need to first be thankful for the things you already have. That also happens to be Russ Ruffino’s top success habit, “gratitude—with a twist.”

The twist that Ruffino references is being grateful for what you already have, but also being grateful for the things that are still among your wants. This provides value not only in business, but he also calls it the “’cheat code’ to life.”

Every morning and night, spend a few minutes thinking of all of the things you have to be thankful for. Consider your health, your family, your business, your hobbies, and everything that you find joy in.

Next, express gratitude for all of the things you’re going to receive in the future. Remind yourself that, while life is good, some of your best days are yet to come.

When you outsource when you can (and not when you shouldn’t), focus on finding the customers most likely to buy from you, and practice gratitude for what you have now as well as what you’ll have in the future, you can help your small business grow now and in the future.

Related Topics

Business Growth