As the head of a creative business, you might struggle to think of yourself as the “business type.” Because of this, you’re now questioning if you’re the right person to continue leading your business into the future. You’re experiencing some remarkable startup growth. Fast. But alongside growth comes more responsibilities, more decision-making, and more self-doubt. Don’t worry: every business owner needs some reassurance. And even though you’re the captain of this ship – and an excellent one at that – building a solid crew behind you to help you steer can make all the difference in the direction of your business.
Your business plan is your touchstone
We’ve spoken a lot about business plans (like in this blog or this one) and that’s because of how important and potentially life-changing they are for a business. Your business plan is your roadmap that you refer to time and time again. It’s what you give new hires or team members so they understand the direction you’re leading them. And it’s what you will continually be adapting so that you’re prepared for whatever the future holds.
Preparation is the quickest and most efficient cure to uncertainty. If you’ve taken the time to consider all aspects of your business, analyse your goals, and plot actionable steps for how you’ll move forward, you won’t be wasting time agonising over every little decision. If you don’t have a business plan, we recommend putting one together either with the help of our blogs or with our dedicated 4-hour workshop you can sign up for here. Startup growth needn’t be a dauting subject.
Every captain needs their crew
The shape, size, and role of your crew is variable, but one thing will remain the same: you’ll all share a common vision for your business. Without this unity, there can be massive disconnects and pitfalls not only in the daily running of your business but in its long-term success. This unity won’t happen overnight: it starts with a solid business plan (See! It always comes back to the business plan!) and it extends to your company culture, to your new hires, and to the team of experts you go to for guidance.
At Raedan, we’ve always believed – and practiced – that an accountant is the best type of business coach. We have a unique combination of skills that give us a leg-up over the average business coach or advisor. For example:
- Your accountant will have a complete understanding of your business – from the nitty-gritty of your daily finances to long-term expansion plans and profit goals.
- Their financial expertise will allow them to spot trends, opportunities, and potential pitfalls far better than a business coach who doesn’t have the same training.
- Your relationship with an accountant is one of total trust and transparency – sharing the full story of your finances is scary, and we appreciate that. The trust that we share will allow us to work together more effectively and prosperously.
From daily bookkeeping to hiring advice to strategic planning, an accountant is the perfect addition to your crew to soothe self-doubt. Our advice isn’t based on just what has worked for us in the past, or what’s worked for other businesses; it’s tailored, specific guidance based on your data and numbers! Read more about how Raedan can help you pilot your ship here.
Know how to delegate with an organisational structure
When you just started your business, it was probably easy to handle everything yourself. You were still learning, and mistakes happened, but they were small mistakes you could fix on your own. One of our clients, Carrie, felt the same way in the beginning of her journey. As her demi fine jewellery business started to grow, however, those mistakes didn’t feel so small. They felt big, and Carrie suddenly had more questions than answers:
- Can I do this?
- Is this ok?
- Am I doing this right?
We get these questions a lot from new clients who experience sudden startup growth. The micro and macro decisions you’re making every single day can be overwhelming, and you’re in need of some reassurance that you’re on the right path. When Carrie started working with us, one of the things we helped her with was figuring out which decisions and tasks she could delegate to others by creating an organisational structure.
An organisational structure defines each employee’s job and outlines how it fits into the business overall. It ensures there’s no confusion about who is responsible for what and that no important tasks are being neglected. If you’re not consumed with every minor decision that goes into running a business – like re-stocks or social media management – you have more time and energy to devote to long-term and big picture planning. If you’d like help creating your own organisational structure to gain back freedom as the captain of your ship, get in touch here.
