How many times have you heard someone say their business is their “baby”?

It makes sense. Building a business takes just as much blood, sweat, and tears as raising a child.

The big difference? Unlike a baby, your business should eventually feed you: financially and otherwise.

We recently talked with a client about this analogy, and it’s worth exploring further. So, let’s walk through the “life stages” of a business and see what they can teach us.

Conception – Potential and Hope

Every business starts with an idea. At this stage, there’s excitement, energy, and big dreams. You’re investing time and effort into launching, and it feels fun—at least in the beginning.

Like any new parent, you’ll get plenty of advice (solicited and not). Some will be useful, some not so much. The key is trusting your instincts but also setting clear targets and tracking progress from day one. Month-to-month growth, realistic planning, and a solid support network will help your idea take its first breath. And yes, expect some sleepless nights.

Infancy – Vitality

Your idea is now a living, breathing business. It’s full-on. Most of your time, money, and energy are pulled into keeping it alive and growing. It’s exciting but exhausting.

This is also the time to be extra vigilant about monitoring progress. Think of your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as your business’s “Plunket book.” Just like parents track a child’s height and weight, you should be tracking your average sale value, debtor days, cashflow, and gross profit.

It’s about making sure your child is on the right growth curve. And, much like a toddler learning to walk, you’ll be discovering hazards and figuring out the guardrails to keep things safe.

Childhood – Playfulness, Imagination and Ingenuity

Your business is still dependent on you, but things are starting to ease up. You’ve got room for creativity, innovation, and maybe even your first employees. Growth tends to come in bursts, and with it comes the need for boundaries—systems, processes, and governance to keep everyone moving in the same direction.

Check in regularly to make sure your team is caring for “your child” the way you want them to. Use KPIs as teaching moments—if something’s off, it’s a chance to coach, tweak, and improve. At the same time, reassess whether the KPIs themselves are the right measures.

This stage is also a good time for you to keep learning and growing. And who knows—you might even be ready to “conceive” another business. Any new business goes through the same stages even when the owner is experienced.

Adolescence – Passion

This is when your business starts testing its independence. You’re no longer involved in every single task—you’re guiding, mentoring, and setting the vision. But just like with teenagers, this stage comes with challenges. Step away for too long and chaos might erupt. Systems, manuals, and a clear exit strategy become vital. Don’t assume the business “doesn’t need you”—you still need to keep your finger on the pulse.

Adulthood – Enterprise, Reflection and Wisdom

Congratulations—you’ve built a mature business. You’ve got a capable team, solid systems, and the freedom to focus on what you love—both in and outside of work. This stage is about enjoying the fruits of your labour while sharing your experience to help others.

Retirement – Freedom and Succession

Eventually, every business owner faces the question: What’s next? Do you have a succession plan? An exit strategy? Grooming your business 3–5 years before you step away is essential. Make it sale-ready by strengthening strategy, branding, operations, systems, compliance, and risk management. More than half of NZ businesses are owned by baby boomers, and not all will find buyers.

Planning ahead gives you the best chance to sell or transition on your terms. Retirement doesn’t have to mean “old age”—sometimes the smartest move is cashing in earlier to realise your hard work.

So, What’s the Parallel?

Growing a business really is like raising a child:

• Everyone has advice for you.
• You research endlessly before and during growth.
• Sleepless nights are inevitable.
• It’s expensive, but the rewards come later.
• Emotions run high.
• You make new connections.
• You’ll do whatever it takes to see it thrive.
• And hopefully, you’re proud when it reaches maturity.

Key Advice

Just as you wouldn’t raise a child without some structure, don’t grow a business without clear goals. Set them, track them with KPIs, and use them to guide better decisions.

Need help establishing or tracking KPIs—or getting your business ready for its next stage? Let’s talk.

Reach out to us for a no-obligation, no charge chat. Love to you, from Love to Grow