Organic growth or mergers and acquisitions: Choosing the right growth strategy

A solid growth plan will ensure you choose a strategy that makes sense for your business

4-minute read

Growing your business: Sometimes, it’s about scaling up and expanding. Other times, it’s about branching out into new markets or developing new products. But in every case, growth is about increasing the value in the business.

Sal Rabbani, Managing Partner, Advisory Services at BDC, says that increase in value can happen one of two ways: Organically—as a natural unfolding of your business plan—or through a merger or acquisition.

How do you know which growth strategy is right for you?

The first step is getting clear on your goals.

“I always start by asking entrepreneurs, ‘What do you want for yourself and the business?’ Because the job of any strategy is to help you achieve that,” Rabbani says. “Think short- and long-term. Do you plan to exit by a set date? Do you want to build something to pass on to the next generation? What’s your vision for the future?”

The answers to those questions will point toward the right growth strategy.

Organic growth: A natural continuation

Organic growth stems naturally from your established business. You can for example:

sell more of your current products to existing customers
develop new markets, generally through geographical expansion
create new products, it can be as simple as creating a new colour or a new size

But Rabbani cautions against thinking organic growth will “just happen” on its own.

“Growing organically is still a deliberate act,” he says. “You should have a well-thought-out strategy and clear plan to grow in ways that make sense for your business and are in line with your goals.”

Mergers and acquisitions: Faster growth, but greater risk

Growth through mergers and acquisition can speed up your time to market with new capabilities or offerings: Instead of developing a product from scratch or reskilling your team, a business acquisition can give you access to those things readymade.

“People often think organic growth is cheaper,” Rabbani notes. “But sometimes creating a net-new offering yourself can end up being more expensive than acquiring it.”

Entrepreneurs that go the acquisition route should be prepared, however: Integrating two companies can be complicated and the results in the first few years often don’t meet overly optimistic expectations.

In the end, it’s rarely an either/or question whether to grow organically or inorganically.

“It’s a balancing act,” Rabbani says. “You don’t ever want to stop growing organically, but you always want to be ready to seize acquisition opportunities that support your goals.”

Organic growth vs. Mergers and acquisitions

Organic growth	Mergers and acquisitions
Usually slower paced Fairly easy to control Doesn’t typically require much extra upfront investments Keeps you focused on your core business	Tends to be a faster way to grow Can open up new markets, geographies and industries Can bring new assets into your portfolio—recognizable brands, intellectual property, key capabilities or talent Often involves transactions that require large amounts of capital Requires focus on the merger or acquisition itself instead of the core business

Planning is key

However you intend to grow, Rabbani insists on the importance of having a plan. It should account for the current state of the business and consider the impact of growth on the company.

Creating a growth plan is all about identifying and prioritizing the best opportunities you can take advantage of as quickly as possible. The premise is that a company can’t exploit every opportunity that present itself, so businesses need to prioritize.

“A good plan will help highlight where and how you may want to think about growing,” Rabbani says. “It forces you to be realistic about your existing systems, processes and capacity. If you see you’re missing a critical capability, then you have to ask: Should we develop it in-house or gain it quickly through an acquisition?”

Have a well-thought-out strategy and clear plan to make sure you grow in ways that make sense for your business and are in line with your goals.

While planning is important, Rabbani says it’s important to stay flexible.

“You can never rest on your laurels,” he explains. “You need to know what’s going on that could threaten your business and adjust your plan accordingly so you don’t get caught in a bubble or left behind as your industry evolves.”

Finally, Rabbani notes that you don’t have to—and shouldn’t—make growth decisions alone. Surrounding yourself with objective, trusted advisors you can call on for support will help you see the big picture and provide additional perspectives to help steer you in the right direction.