The goal is for you to achieve financial freedom

 It can be difficult for small businesses to grow their customer base beyond the realms of the local community. Generating new business, however, is fundamental to business success, no matter how challenging it may seem. Here are three ideas small businesses can do to help keep their local customer base strong, while at the same time, spread the word about their business to larger communities: Get on social media To ensure your business is found online, set up a business profile on Facebook, LinkedIn or even Twitter. Social media can be a powerful tool to promote your small business to more customers, gain followers and increase your network by connecting to other businesses online. Nurture existing customers Most experienced business owners know for a fact that it is far more cost-effective to retain old customers than gain new ones. So make sure you continue to keep your current customer base happy. Always go the extra mile so customers will remember your business for its friendly se

 Once your business is up and running, you need to identify and understand what works and what doesn't. Owners need to take a step back and be strategic about how and when they should grow their business. Opportunities for business growth can be exciting, but turning an idea into a practical reality takes careful research, planning and investment. Here is a short checklist owners can use: Review your cash flow Growing a business starts with reviewing your cash flow. Work out how much money comes in and goes out, and use this information to plan the year ahead. Identify how much money is needed to invest in the business's growth and what it will be used for e.g. hiring employees or buying equipment. Review your daily processes Could your staff be more efficient in the way they do things? Check your business practices and policies and review day-to-day processes to identify what can be improved. Prepare your team Having a team of skilled and committed employees is key to business