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In order to scale your business the first step is to document and standardize all of your processes. This is considerably difficult for many people, since running your business just happens. It’s not something you think about very much. You do what you have to do to keep going.

But embedded in the routine are distinct processes and systems that have for everything. The systems may not be very organized or apparent right now (or perhaps they are) but you have them.

The first step is identifying the systems you already have, figuring out what’s important, prioritizing them, then documenting and standardizing the details. This is the very means for scaling anything and developing employees. If you have a defined repeatable system you can pass off, your employees will shine, and you’ll sleep better at night.

For example, what’s your client intake process? What happens when you start work with a new client? Perhaps you have things you always do in this situation:

• Visit their office and meet everyone
• Set up a project in Basecamp or other project management tool
• Create an invoicing system so you can get paid
• Set up weekly update phone calls with the client
• Etc.

All of your current systems have steps. You may not realize it at this moment but they do. Religiously document your systems. Put them in a Google doc or somewhere easily accessible to everyone in your business. It doesn’t have to be very formal, just in plain language and easy to grab. Do this now; way before you need to. It will make duplicating your business’s internal processes a snap. And now you can take a vacation. Bon voyage!

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