Follow these timeless principles to scale your business successfully

Many business owners strive to grow their business into a household name.

Any viable business has the potential to develop successful franchises, but it takes dedication, investment and planning. With the right strategy and tactics, you have the ability to build a national or global brand without compromising your company's quality or values.

Here are some key principles to remember before you start scaling.

Know your customers inside out

No company experiences explosive growth if it doesn't capitalize exactly on what the public is looking for in the marketplace. When you have one or two locations, develop a solid understanding of your brand's community. What kind of people frequent your store? What are their unique demographics? Which customers generate the most revenue for your business?

By understanding these analytics, you can become strategic in choosing real estate locations in new regions. Placements should be placed competitively and close to your target audience. If you make it easier for your customers to access your products/services, money will keep flowing to your business.

Don't underestimate the importance of preparing ahead of time to get the best results. Peter Taunton of Nautical Bols, who has already taken Snap Fitness to over 2,500 locations, invested $100,000 to profile customers ahead of the expansion. The company's investment has paid off in the long run, with franchises carefully positioned to target its ideal customers.

Systematize, systematize, systematize

Before you even think about scale, think about all the systems and processes you need. What does the business look like when you have a second location? And now how about when you have over 100 locations?

In order to make the brand image consistent, a large amount of planning must be done in advance. Once all the systems and processes are in place, you can hire well-trained workers to execute what has been prepared.

Invest in your employees and workforce

Quality employees play an essential role in the development of your business. Every business owner will need to learn how to deliver every detail of the business while automating at scale. Focus on the critical points of the system; in the meantime, hire trustworthy professionals to lead the brand.

Prioritize mentoring people to help them grow. The reason most people fail is because of understanding or conformity. Understanding leads to deeper teaching and an opportunity to step in for additional guidance. Compliance issues are a signal to change an employee's position or possibly move them out of the company.

Once you have well-trained employees, your franchise will begin to operate and generate revenue on its own.

Focus on building what cannot be replicated

For most companies, this will mean creating a unique and differentiated brand. Product quality and reliability are always maintained. This creates a substantial degree of customer trust and loyalty. Moreover, they are determined to provide the best service to their customers. This includes efficiency, community presence, customer service and a great corporate culture.

Keep in mind that the intangible is the hardest to reproduce. A company is distinguished from its competitors by community, culture and philanthropy. The market is never too saturated if you create a strong presence with your customers.

When you launch a new place, get involved with the community right away. Don't just sell, serve. Some ways to achieve this are through community engagement and providing a fantastic store culture. If you create an environment where people want to go out, they will keep coming back. A community-centric approach will take you further than just seeking revenue.

Duplicate what is already working

Be diligent enough to gather all the information on what is working well and what may need to change in the future. If a place finds...