Why Small Businesses Struggle to Scale
Scaling isn’t just about getting bigger — it’s about building smarter.
Too many owners discover this the hard way. They grow headcount, chase more projects, and push for revenue… only to find their margins shrinking, their processes breaking down, and their best people burning out.
I’ve lived this pattern in two very different settings:
At Atom Engineering, a privately held firm where we chose a self-funded path to scale — trading short-term margin swings for long-term strength.
At CBRE, where my team’s job wasn’t to sell more projects, but to build the platform that allowed project management and facilities to sustain double-digit growth for a decade.
Different contexts, but the same truth: scaling isn’t about “more.” It’s about creating the systems, leadership, and financial discipline that let you handle more.
In my new white paper, Why Small Businesses Struggle to Scale — and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank, I dive into:
The five traps that derail scaling, and how experts and my own experience line up.
Why cash flow discipline is more important than short-term profitability.
The planning DNA that was common in both Atom and CBRE, despite their differences.
A practical playbook any business can apply to scale responsibly.
If your business is ambitious about growth, but you don’t want to sacrifice stability, culture, or customer experience, this paper will give you a roadmap worth following..
