One of the first things you may learn from business school is the importance of scalability. You may be entering the entrepreneurial world with only a small business and the corresponding small business aspirations, but there may be some point in your entrepeneurial career where you find that demand has outgrown what your company can deliver. They say that this is a good problem to have, since it means that you are growing, but it is a problem nonetheless.

Let’s take the example of a small printing shop. Initially, the shop owner will invest in the required printers to fire out flyers, business cards, and other kinds of documents that customers may desire. Perhaps this motivated entrepreneur has looked ahead and already covered his bases with different types of printers, the availability of color, and so on. However, he is still handling all of the orders manually and on his own. That could become a problem.

As this printing shop continues to grow, the business owner may consider implementing an online order form and payment system. This way, customers can go to the website, submit their print jobs, and even submit payment via credit card or PayPal. The business owner can then receive a message with the required print job, proceed with the tasks needed to complete the project, and have the final product ready for pickup (or deliver) on the date needed. By using this method, the business owner spends less time on the phone with customers taking orders and more time actually getting the projects done.

A growing business is a healthy business, but it is also a business that will require modifications in order to accommodate this growth. Think of your business as a boat. It may be great for a certain number of passengers, whizzing along on the water at a breakneck pace. However, load up with too much cargo or too many customers and you may find your boat slowing to a crawl… or it may even begin to sink! Be prepared for growth and shift your practices accordingly.