4 Things to Do When Your Startup Is All Grown Up

By Nate Vickery

Your startup business has grown past its startup stage and has expanded into a profitable business. All of your efforts are starting to pay off and all the blood sweat and tears are now finally worth it. Driving a startup business until it's no longer a startup is one of the most difficult tasks in entrepreneurship world and it makes you overcame some of the hardest challenges there are.
However, the journey doesn't end there - you still have a business to run and even more challenges to face. Many business owners, who finally reach the point where they can no longer call their business a startup, wonder what to do next. The answer is quite simple – keep running the show and set new goals that you want to reach; only, this time around, both the stage and the rules are different. Here are a few things you can do after your startup is all grown up.

Create your culture

Your company's culture will be the face of your business from now on. Even as a startup, you probably had some idea about what your culture will look like. Well, now is the time to think big because you are an enterprise and it's time to make a reality out of your ideas and put your plans into motion.
A company's culture will determine your core values and the way things will be done in your organization. Make sure you design your culture well and make sure it represents what you want to achieve and what you stand for.

Hire an effective team

Once you have defined your company's culture and core values, it's time to surround yourself with effective and productive employees. You are past the startup stage and now you have the funding to help your business grow even further. So, start out by finding the right people that will help you reach the next level of success.
You probably had employees as a startup, either outsourced or part-time assistance. Either way, look back and look at the people who helped you out once, so determine if they are the right people for the job and give them a call. Furthermore, you will need managers, marketers and other effective teams, so make sure you hire people that align with your company's core values and your company's culture. Don't rush the employment process because it takes time to find the right people for the job.

Start a partnership

Now that you are no longer looking for investments, you can become an investor. You of all people should know how difficult it was to find a good investment during your startup years. If it's according to your business goals, you can endorse someone's startup or start a partnership. Make sure it's a good investment and that it will be an opportunity for both businesses to prosper.
However, starting a partnership can be difficult and introducing yourself to a new audience and new products demands a well-thought-out approach. It is important to remember that your shareholders have a say in decision-making and that not everything is entirely up to you. Before deciding on how to proceed, a shareholders agreement template that defines privileges and obligations should help everyone understand where they stand. After all, you want everything to run smoothly in your future endeavors.

Change your mindset

You probably got used to thinking about how to survive as a startup owner, but now is the time to change your mindset and adjust your attitude. As a business owner, you will have to think bigger than you used to; the same way your startup has expanded, so has the demand for new things. For instance, you may consider a bigger office to house new employees, as well as equipping that office space with adequate supplies, such as hardware, software, faster Internet and, of course, office furniture.
Furthermore, it's not just the material things that need improvement, but also the way you deal with challenges. As mentioned, you will face a different kind of obstacles and difficulties, and you will need to find more creative and innovative ways to deal with them. Allow your employees to help you tackle the issues. As you may know, employees can have a unique perspective and amazing ideas on how to overcome the difficulties. Don't hesitate to use their potential – after all, you can learn something new from your employees, as well.

It's important to understand that just because your startup has grown up, it doesn't mean it's all over. In fact, you have just completed one stage in business development and now you are proceeding to another. Set new goals and find new ways to achieve those goals. Don't lose track of what's important and surround yourself with good people that will help your business stand out in the industry.