What’s Holding Back Your Business Growth?

Running a successful business isn’t just about technical expertise – it’s about mastering the business itself.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve helped over 400 small business owners achieve more profit, less stress, and greater freedom in their lives.

Recently, I joined Chris Hunter on the Roofer Growth Hacks podcast to discuss growth challenges and strategies for small businesses. While the conversation focused on roofing companies, the advice we explored applies to any small business.

You can watch the full interview here:

Here are some of the key takeaways:

The Framework for Business Success

Running a successful business isn’t just about technical expertise – it’s about mastering the business itself.

My approach revolves around the “Five Steps to Freedom” framework, which guides business owners from initial positioning in the marketplace to achieving time and financial independence.

The goal?

Building a business that works for you, not the other way around.

Key Elements of the Framework:

• Business Systems: Strategy, tools, and processes for running your operations efficiently.
• Leadership Development: Improving skills like communication, delegation, and team management.
• Accountability: Holding yourself and your team accountable for the results you aim to achieve.

Common Challenges Business Owners Face

Many small business owners encounter similar challenges when scaling their operations. These typically fall into three categories:

• Time: Overwhelmed by long hours and an endless to-do list.
• Team: Difficulty finding and retaining skilled workers.
• Money: A lack of clear financial systems, marketing plans, or revenue forecasting.

Quick Fix: Begin with your “burning bush”—the most pressing issue holding your business back. Whether it’s cash flow, hiring, or time management, addressing this first creates breathing room to tackle larger goals.

Building a Marketing and Sales Mindset

One of the biggest shifts for many business owners is recognizing that they are not just delivering a product or service – they are leading a marketing and sales business that happens to specialize in their field.

Without consistent marketing and a clear revenue plan, many owners find themselves in a feast-or-famine cycle.

Growth Hack: Reverse-engineer your revenue goals by creating a marketing plan that aligns with:

• Lead generation targets
• Conversion rates
• Average order value

Always Be Recruiting

Building a strong team requires constant effort. Just as you consistently market to attract customers, you must also market your business to potential employees.

Pro Tip:

• Identify the best talent in your network—people you’ve met at networking events, community gatherings, or industry meetups.
• Maintain a “bench” of potential hires to ensure you’re never caught short-staffed.

Align Your Calendar with Your Goals

One of my favorite personal hacks is creating a “default diary.”

This involves planning your week around your priorities and allocating time for the most important activities. By aligning your calendar with your goals, you can:

• Reduce stress
• Increase productivity
• Eliminate wasted time

The Power of Delegation

One of the most transformative steps for business owners is learning to delegate. Start with tasks that drain your time and energy, such as:

• Managing your inbox
• Handling routine administrative work
• Scheduling and payroll

Hiring a virtual assistant or operations manager can free you to focus on high-value activities like strategic planning and client acquisition.

Mindset Shift: Focus isn’t about what you say “yes” to. It’s about what you say “no” to. Delegate tasks that others can handle better and more efficiently so you can concentrate on leading your business.

Mastering Cash Flow Management

Many business owners struggle with cash flow because they lack systems for forecasting and collections.

A simple solution? A 13-week cash flow forecast that maps out expected income and expenses. This allows you to anticipate potential issues and make proactive adjustments.

Bonus Tip: Keep a reserve of 3-5 months of operating expenses in a separate account to weather unforeseen challenges.

A Success Story: Lessons for Any Business

One of the most rewarding transformations I’ve been a part of involved an entrepreneur who built a business without formal training but quickly found themselves struggling despite having plenty of work.

Challenges:

• The company wasn’t charging enough to cover costs, let alone turn a profit.
• Financial systems were lacking, making it hard to understand cash flow and profitability.
• Time management was a constant challenge, with the owner juggling meetings, errands, and daily tasks.

Solutions:

• Understanding proper job costing, ensuring every project contributed to the bottom line.
• Connecting with a skilled accountant who provided clear, actionable financial reporting.
• Implementing a default diary system to structure the owner’s weeks, doubling productivity.
• Improving hiring practices by creating job ads that emphasized the benefits of working at the company and casting a wider net for candidates.

Results: The company turned its finances around, achieving record profitability and giving the owner the freedom to focus on growth rather than survival. The systems put in place allowed them to confidently navigate market challenges and make informed business decisions.

Running a successful business is about more than just technical skill.

It requires a strategic approach to marketing, team building, financial management, and leadership.

If there’s one lesson to take away, it’s this: your business should serve your life, not the other way around.

If you’re ready to build a business that gives you the freedom you deserve, you can book a free 15-minute call to discuss coaching here: Book a Call with John.