This book is for business owners who want to grow a business and learn essential business skills along the way.

It breaks down the entrepreneurial journey into four distinct stages of growth, to help give clarity and direction – and the right strategies – at each stage.

Small Business CEO is designed to remove the uncertainty over what to do when, to help business owners tackle the challenges of growth.

REVIEWS

Ernest S.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Fitting Title

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book as it was very applicable to my size business 20-30 employees but also relevant to larger types. Down to earth and practical ideas not too fancy MBA language. I liked the direct writing style as well. I’ve been looking for a book like this for a long time and I think the title describes it perfectly! Most of us business owners did not learn how to be business owners do we need books like this for guidance and support.

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any and all business operators!

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2017

Easy to read and full of great advice.
I’ve been a fan of her blog for a while so it’s great to have it all brought together in her book.
Loved the worksheets that went alongside the book and the case studies really brought the advice to life

• Making the Shift to CEO – includes the key differences between a CEO focus and business owner approach and why a shift in perspective is important; outlines the four stages of growth
• Business Models and Scalability – outlines different business models and key considerations for each in terms of making money, scaling up and marketing.
• Stage 1 – Foundation. This chapter explains what a Stage 1 business is, the typical challenges facing these businesses, and they key strategies to focus on in Foundation. At this stage, business owners often struggle to find the right strategies to grow their business, and are constantly derailed by ‘bright shiny object syndrome’, shifting from one idea to the next trying to get a foothold with their marketing. There are examples throughout to provide more indepth understanding of what strategies work well and what doesn’t work in a Foundation business.
• Stage 2 – Build Structure. This is a very challenging stage for many businesses as they grow in size and complexity, stretching the capacity of the business owner. This chapter details these challenges, & identifies what are the keys to success in Stage 2.
• Stage 3 – Business Expansion. What does a company in this stage look like? What are the big challenges? What are the keys to success in navigating through this stage? The answers to these questions are all in this chapter!
• Stage 4 – Optimise Value. Thinking about selling your business one day? You’ve spent years working hard to build a successful company so now is the time to optimise the value you’ve built up in this asset. The key success factors at this stage are critical for your future!
• Staying on Track. This chapter provides some useful management tools and strategies to keep you on track as your business grows.

Jenny Stilwell is an authority on creating the right strategy and structure for small businesses to grow and thrive. Having built her own consulting practices, and had CEO roles leading small and medium sized companies herself, including a publicly listed company, she understands the challenges involved with growing pains and managing expansion.