Is your business not growing fast enough?

If you feel like your business growth is moving at a snail’s pace while others seem to be zooming ahead, you’re not alone.

According to a report published in August 2024, small businesses in the UK aren’t growing as fast as they should be. Not only are they lagging behind UK GDP growth, but they’re also falling behind their peers in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Great, so now I feel even worse about my business growth.” But don’t worry – this isn’t a doom and gloom article. We’re actually sharing some good news: you can do something about it.

If your business isn’t growing fast enough, then here is what you should be focused on:

1. What’s holding your business back? 
2. And more importantly, how do you fix it?

Why is UK small business growth lagging?

Before we go into the “What” and “How”, it’s useful to look at why the UK small business growth is lagging in general. Maybe your growth is being stunted for similar reasons?

The research from Xero highlights a worrying trend – UK small businesses just aren’t scaling at the same pace as those in other major economies. But why?

A few potential culprits:

• Cautious decision-making – Many business owners hesitate to invest in growth because of economic uncertainty.
• Lack of strategic planning – Growth doesn’t just happen. You need a plan, goals, and a roadmap to get there.
• Cashflow constraints – Scaling a business requires investment, and without strong cashflow, it’s hard to reinvest in growth. 
• Not enough marketing (or the wrong kind) – If people don’t know you exist, they can’t buy from you. Simple as that.

If any of these sound familiar, don’t panic! There are things you can do to fix it.

How to speed up your business growth

Step 1: Identify what’s holding you back

Before you can grow, you need to understand why you’re stuck. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself:

• Do I actually have a growth plan? Or am I just hoping for the best?
• Is my marketing working? Am I actively bringing in new customers, or am I relying on the same old crowd?
• Am I too reliant on one or two big clients? Would losing them put my business in trouble?
• Is my pricing strategy helping or hurting my growth? Am I charging enough to scale sustainably?
• Do I have the right team and processes in place? Or is my business a one-person juggling act?

If you can identify What is holding your business back, you’re already a step ahead of many other business owners. All you need to do now is focus on how you can fix it.

However, if you don’t have clear answers to these, it might be time for a business deep dive (which, lucky for you, is something we can help with!).

Need help? Get in touch with us to review your business plan and create a better one that gets you results. Email us at [email protected] to unblock your growth.

Step 2: Create an action plan

Once you know what’s holding you back, the next step is figuring out how to change it. This means setting clear, measurable goals and creating an action plan to make them happen.

• Fix your marketing – If people aren’t finding you, they can’t buy from you. Invest in SEO, social media, networking, and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
• Diversify your revenue streams – Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Having a mix of clients, services, or products helps protect against slowdowns.
• Check your pricing – Are you charging what you’re worth? If not, it’s time for a price review.
• Streamline your operations – Are you wasting time on admin instead of focusing on growth? Automate where possible and delegate where necessary.
• Keep an eye on your finances – Growth requires investment, so make sure your cashflow is in a good place before making big moves.

It’s all about small, consistent improvements that add up to big results.

Step 3: Get expert support

The truth is, growing a business isn’t a solo mission. Even the best entrepreneurs have advisors, mentors, and accountants to help them navigate challenges and keep things moving forward.

At JVCA, we don’t just look at the numbers – we help business owners get clarity, strategy, and a solid action plan to accelerate their growth.

So if your business isn’t growing fast enough, let’s figure out why – and more importantly, let’s fix it.

Ready to grow faster?If you’re ready to get out of a business rut and start growing at the pace you know you’re capable of, let’s make it happen.Book your deep dive with us today – by dropping us an email at [email protected].