Throughout the author's career as a banker and business consultant, he has seen many examples of businesses that were doing just "fine." They were profitable and growing slowly but surely, but then, the business owner decided that it wasn't enough anymore to simply grow slowly. What was suddenly needed was growth of 20%, 50%, or even 100% per year, just like the notable companies they see and hear about every day in the media. They began to try to grow the business and in a short period, a profitable and thriving business became unprofitable. Since the business was no longer profitable, it needed to take on debt to pay its expenses. After taking on more and more debt, the business reached a point where it could not find any more debt to take on. This circumstance caused the business to fail to pay its bills anymore which led to a financial day of reckoning.
It doesn't have to be this way. There is a more effective way to grow your business without causing it to become unprofitable. And that's why the author wrote this book.
Growing a business without making profits usually leads to a short lifespan for that business and there are exceptions such as Uber and DoorDash – but there is a big difference between a business that has outside investors (angel investors, private equity, and venture capital) and the typical small business entrepreneur trying to bootstrap a business. The difference is that if a business has a huge target market and it is growing its sales rapidly, outside investors may be willing to fund losses for a period. The same does not apply to an entrepreneur trying to grow a business without outside investors. Losses show that a business is on borrowed time. Once your capital is exhausted, there is no going back. A business needs profits to remain viable and to be able to provide for its owners, its employees, and its community. Running a business that loses money will put you out of business.
There is no reason not to be profitable as you grow your business! The author shares the lessons that were taught to him by leaders, mentors in business, and by his clients. What took him by surprise was that these lessons were not complicated. They're simple. They use simple, uncomplicated methods to grow their businesses profitably. You will learn about the readily available tools you can use to ensure that your business does not turn unprofitable as you grow it. You'll be convinced that it makes sense to resist the lure of the high-growth, no-profit strategy and instead embrace the approach of steady growth with profits.
Use this book as a guide. In it, the author covers the most important aspects of reasonable, prudent growth that will avoid debt and allow you, your partners, and business associates a productive and non-stressful existence with a business that grows and profits correctly.