Businesses go through several life cycle stages, different financial strategies are used to align with each of the four distinct stages.

Your business and the business life cycle

Firstly please consider the following three steps when reading this document.

Step 1:
Use the Business Life Cycle Stages to identify your company's current position in the business life cycle.

Step 2:
Use the Business Life Cycle Checklist to better understand the issues that you'll be dealing with in each phase.

Step 3:
You can use the appropriate leadership strategies shown in the attached file, to deal with the issues applicable to the Business Life Cycle phase (as necessary).

Business life cycle stages

1. Introduction/Start-up/Emerging

The business is developing initial products, defining markets, and deciding what business structure to use and creating its first operational systems.

2. Growth/Expansion

Sales are growing, more employees are needed, operational systems will soon be outgrown and increased revenues are bringing tax issues to the forefront.

3. Mature/Prosperous

Growth has brought cash reserves that require investment decision, operational systems need to be further refined and the importance of keeping key employees increases.

4. Decline/Transition/Exit

It's time to decide whether to keep the business in the family, diversity investment away from the business, sell or transfer the business or go in a new direction, and revitalize or rebuild.

Business life cycle issues

1. Introduction/Startup/Emerging

Issues faced:

• Preparing business plan/improving results
• Improving/ managing cash flow
• Accumulating funds for specific business needs
• Selecting entity structure.

2. Growth/Expansion

Issues faced:

• Protecting investment in business
• Protecting against business risks
• Managing business taxes
• Implementing retirement plans
• Establishing programs to attract and retain employees.

3. Mature/Prosperous

Issues faced:

• Investing business cash reserves
• Getting business valuation
• Structuring benefits for owners
• Protecting against impact of loss of key employees.

4. Decline/Transition/Exit

Issues faced:

• Create buy/sell agreement
• Implementing a business transition plan
• Retaining business within the family
• Selling at desired price
• Finding next venture.

Please refer to the attached Image for appropriate leadership strategies aligned to your business life cycle stage.