279: How to Scale Without Borrowing (or Breaking Your Business)

279: How to Scale Without Borrowing (or Breaking Your Business)

Author: Susan Bradley: E-commerce Expert August 5, 2025 Duration: 38:56

Thinking about scaling your store? This episode is your checklist. Susan and Inner Circle coach Melissa Davies break down what most store owners get wrong when they try to grow—and the five things you need to do before you scale.

If you're not profitable now, scaling won't fix it. It'll just magnify the problem. Tune in to hear how to prepare your business to grow without burning out or running out of cash.

You'll Learn:

 ✅ Why your first step isn't marketing—it's accounting
✅ How to know if you're really ready to scale
✅ What to look for in a bookkeeper (and how to know if they're doing it wrong)
✅ How to calculate your cost to acquire a customer
✅ How to set aside a "growth fund" so you're not scaling on fumes

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 167 – Price to Maximize Profit https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/pricing-to-maximize-profit-episode-167/

Episode 165 – How to Scale Your Sales https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-scale-your-sales-episode-165/

Episode 262 – What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/what-to-do-when-you-have-more-time-than-money-in-your-business-episode-262/

Episode 187 – What It Costs to Get a Customer https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-even-know-what-it-costs-to-get-a-new-customer-episode-187/

______________________

Are you constantly asking yourself how to make your website better or questioning your prices? Do you wonder if you're missing something? If you have made sales in person or on a site like Etsy, I know you can sell more on your site.

Get my FREE mini-course that will show you our step-by-step process to grow your sales without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies or discounting your products here: https://learn.thesocialsalesgirls.com/conversion-school/

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Susan Bradley has spent years navigating the twists and turns of online retail, and in The Ecommerce Roadmap, she shares that hard-won expertise directly with you. This isn't about vague theory; it's a practical guide built from the ground up for Shopify store owners who are tired of guesswork. Each episode pulls back the curtain on real stores, dissecting what actually moves the needle for growth and profitability. You'll hear a data-driven blend of overarching strategy and the specific, actionable tactics you can implement immediately. The focus is always on building a business with predictable, profitable sales, not just fleeting traffic. As an e-commerce expert, Susan structures every conversation to cut through the noise, offering clear direction whether you're just starting out or looking to scale an established brand. Tune into this podcast for honest conversations that feel like consulting with a trusted advisor, all aimed at providing you with a reliable map for your unique journey in online commerce.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Ecommerce Roadmap
Podcast Episodes
255: These 7 habits predict success, start implementing them now! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Susan shares the 7 habits that are the best predictors of an online store's success. These are habits that can be practiced by store owners at any level of business, from mindset to practical tips for overcoming any obst…
254: Everything you want to know about Reliable Revenue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Reliable Revenue is a once-a-year intensive course focused on building a long-term conversion system to maximize customer lifetime value through email marketing strategies and automations. It does not cover traffic, ads,…
253: Make your Brand + Products Stand Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Susan and Bonnie Christine discuss how surface pattern design helps businesses stand out through custom branding. Bonnie, a self-taught designer, turned her passion into a career by taking small, consistent steps. Surfac…
252: Use these 3 Steps to Get Featured in Gift Guides [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:08
Getting your products featured in gift guides can be a game-changer for your business. It builds credibility, boosts sales, and gets your brand in front of the right audience—all without paying for ads. In this episode,…
251: 10x'ing Jane's Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:07
In this episode, we're talking with Jane Harbison, a talented fashion designer and business owner with a clear goal: to 10x her sales this year. Jane specializes in digital sewing patterns for boys and men, and she's sha…
250: The strategy that will generate the sales you want [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
Ever wondered how to turn your passion project into a thriving, multi-six-figure business? In this episode, Birgit Tolman, owner of The Wishing Thorn, shares the exact strategies she used to transform her cross-stitch sh…
249: "Stabbing in the dark is gone. I know how to create income..." [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:33
Ever feel like growing your business is just one high-stakes guessing game? Sarah Hardy knows exactly how that feels—but she's here to share how she turned things around. In just a few months, Sarah stopped "stabbing in…
248: We can teach you how to sell anything. Even if... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:03
This episode is valuable for every one of you, whether you have a 7 figure store, or you are in a place where you're looking to get sales traction. When you listen, try to identify the one thing that was the catalyst for…
247. Incredible Focus Leads to $40k Months [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:08
Ever wondered how to grow a thriving business while juggling a full-time job? In this episode, I'm sharing Glory Puljak's incredible story. In just two years, she turned her side hustle into a $40K/month eCommerce busine…
246. 5 Things to do every month (Don't skip this) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:55
Feeling like there's never enough time to get everything done? In this episode, I'm walking you through the ideal workflow that successful store owners use to stay focused and see consistent results. This simple, repeata…