The 5 Life cycle Stages of business (seed, startup, growth, expansion, and maturity) represent the journey you and your business will take, from the moment you conceive the idea to start the company all the way through its inception (also known as the official launch) and various growth phases until it becomes a mature, sustainable organization. Much like planting a tree starts with a single seed, your business starts with a single idea, a plan, and a dream. How well you cultivate that idea (making good choices rather than bad ones) over time and trust in the process will go a long way toward ensuring you are still doing what you love 15, 20, or even 30 years from now.


No one said starting a business cannot be challenging – or overwhelming. According to the Department of Labor, there are more than 400,000 small-businesses that open their doors every year, and only 50% of them survive the first five years. However, with a firm understanding of the Five Life cycle Stages below, and where your particular business is in its life cycle, you will know how to move forward, adjust your strategy, and anticipate potential obstacles. As your business grows, the challenges may appear more difficult. Use these life cycle stages as a road map to having the business you desire.


One common factor that we’ve noticed is that there are businesses that have been in existence for some time and generating substantial revenue. It is important to understand that the length of business and the amount of revenue do not determine the life cycle stage a business is in. So if you find out your business is in a life cycle stage that you don’t believe fits, it is because the business has neglected key building blocks necessary to achieve sustainability.