A blog share from Niall McGinnity, CEO @ Nuvem9
Every business I have worked with and advised on follows a lifecycle as follows:
- Launch / Startup
- Growth
- Plateau
- Scale
- Shrink to Stabilise
- Reinvention / Regrow / Refocus
- Exit / Transition / Merge
Not all businesses follow every step. They will either stall or fail at one, or they will succeed in bypassing one to jump forward. However, one thing is clear, these steps cover the likely route and they are not the route that a founder sets out with initially which would be:
- Launch / Startup
- Growth
- Scale
- Exit / Transition / Merge
Do you note the gaps in the second list compared to the first?
- Plateau
- Shrink to Stabilise
- Reinvention / Regrow / Refocus
The Reality
The reality is, that for most businesses, the trajectory on growth is not a calm, stress-free straight line towards an 8 figure exit. The reality is more:
- Letting people go—emotionally and reputationally tough
- Rebuilding cash reserves after poor project fits
- Adjusting to market changes or pricing missteps
- Shedding legacy costs or services
Self Diagnosis
I’ve spoken a lot about planning and making the right moves recently. To truly understand what to do next I highly recommend an honest self diagnosis of your business. If you can evaluate where you are on this lifecycle it will help you understand where you need to be next, and therefore what to do.
Final Thought
Over the coming weeks I am going to dive deeper into each stage, in order. For any of you that are impatient, you can book a discovery session here.
Helping leaders and businesses drive success forward
Here at Nuvem9, we do things a bit differently – we’re not your traditional accountants or financial advisors.
We empower ambitious business owners to grow with clarity and confidence. Based in the UK, we specialise in working in creative and service-led industries that demand a financial partner who gets it — responsive, knowledgeable and always easy to talk to.
Whether you’re scaling up, navigating change, or just need someone who speaks your language, we bring experienced financial and commercial advice and proactive support that keeps your finances clear, compliant, and under control. No jargon. No delays. Just sharp insights and a team who’s got your back.
Want to see if we could be a fit for your business? Let’s connect virtually (we’ll be live, no robots here).
