Before we start, I need you to know this: Growing your revenue doesn’t have to shrink your margins.

Yes, growth can be expensive. But when it’s done right (strategically and with the numbers in mind), it can boost your EBITDA, increase your business valuation, and give you more freedom and flexibility. 

So today’s focus is simple: How do you grow without bleeding?

I’ve seen the following five steps have a huge impact on companies of all sizes. 

1. Prioritize High-Margin Products and Services

All revenue is not created equal.

Your first move is to identify your most profitable offerings. Where are your margins the highest? Which services require less labor, have a lower cost of goods sold, or need fewer touchpoints? 

Now ask yourself:

• Can we sell more of these?

• Can we reposition them?

• Can we bundle them with lower-margin offerings to increase overall profit?

Doubling down on what’s already working is often faster and smarter than chasing something new. It might not sound like a hack (because it isn’t), but sometimes common sense strategies work the best.

2. Focus on the Right Customers

Want more profit? Serve the right people. Some customers…

• Don’t flinch at premium pricing

• Rarely ask for discounts

• Buy repeatedly

• Upsell easily

• Require fewer hand-holds

Other red-flag customers are a headache, and you don’t want to work with them anyway.

Look at your customer base. Find the patterns in your highest-margin accounts. Then build your sales and marketing strategies around attracting more of those types of buyers.

Not every customer is worth chasing. So spend less time chasing a poor fit and more time analyzing the best ones and trying to repeat that process.

3. Be Strategic With Your Costs 

This is where most growth-stage businesses get tripped up. The momentum is exciting, but without control, expenses can balloon. If you scale expenses, you’re only creating more work for yourself with less profit at the end.

Here are smart ways to scale without losing margin:

• Offshore non-core functions like data entry, bookkeeping, or basic customer service

• Automate repeatable processes with AI or software

• Delay full-time hires by leveraging contractors or fractional experts

• Track your breakpoints. Know exactly when you need to invest in more space, equipment, or headcount

The goal isn’t to cut corners, it’s to scale efficiently. 

4. Understand EBITDA and Grow It

EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) is a key metric buyers and investors care about. It’s also one of the clearest indicators of the health of your business.

To grow it:

• Increase pricing strategically

• Eliminate unnecessary spending

• Improve efficiency in service delivery

• Focus your team’s energy on high-ROI initiatives

If top-line growth is about energy, EBITDA growth is about discipline.

5. Grow Smarter, Not Just Bigger

A lot of businesses hit a dangerous stage where they’re adding new customers but also adding cost with every sale. Growth without margin is a risk.

Before you invest in a new hire, location, product line, or ad campaign, ask yourself:

• Will this improve our bottom line or dilute it?

• Are we gaining leverage with each step forward? 

Looking at it from that lens can save you from painful setbacks and position you for sustainable success.

Work your way through these five steps before you blow a bunch of money on growth strategies that don’t work, or worse, backfire.

If you need help with any of the steps above, speak with a professional who can help:

👉Book a call with a Growth Advisor