Growing with few resources is possible: 10 tips to structure a small business

Brazil continues to advance in the entrepreneurship scenario. According to data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM 2024), a survey conducted by Sebrae in partnership with Anegepe (National Association of Studies and Research in Entrepreneurship), the entrepreneurship rate in the country reached its highest level in four years, jumping from 31.6% to 33.4% in 2024.

This growth is largely driven by small businesses and microenterprises that drive the local economy and create opportunities in various regions of the country. However, knowing how to structure and manage these companies sustainably is essential to ensure their permanence and evolution in the market.

Entrepreneurship with limited resources is still the reality for many Brazilians. When the investment is self-funded and the entrepreneur takes on multiple roles, the growth may be slower but more aligned with the values and purposes of the business.

According to Andrea Rios, CEO of Orcas and a specialist in sales and omnichannel strategies, even in the face of budget constraints, small businesses have the potential for innovation, consolidation, and medium to long-term growth. “The entrepreneur has greater control over the business and can focus on the main actor of the company: the customer, who is also the funder of the business. In addition, they themselves have the opportunity to evolve, acquiring unique skills in the market,” she points out.

Before seeking sales conversions, Andrea emphasizes the importance of building a well-structured and adaptable business plan. “Understanding the market, mapping competitors, and financially projecting the business are crucial to make more assertive decisions and to know how to allocate the available resources,” she explains.

An expert from Orcas, a martech consultancy, has put together 10 steps that serve as a guide for those who want to bring a business to life or make it more solid, even without major investments:

1. Validate the idea: talk to close people or potential customers. Share your proposal and ask for feedback.
2. Keep initial costs low: avoid major investments right from the start. Prioritize remote work and, if necessary, hire freelancers instead of assembling a fixed team.
3. Use open-source and free tools: there are cost-free platforms for accounting, content creation, financial organization, and project management. Explore these options before hiring paid services.
4. Focus on revenue generation: from the beginning, channel your efforts towards generating profit. Simple strategies can increase sales conversion and improve the company’s cash flow. Some ideas on how to do this:

• Invest in recurrence: transform your product into a subscription with low monthly values, but that generate added value in the medium and long term.
• Explore pre-sales anticipation actions: pre-launch actions help create excitement and engagement. You can also offer early access to VIP groups, such as already loyal customers, creating a sense of exclusivity and valuing those who already consume your brand.
• Invest in social media: even with a tight budget, it is possible to expand digital presence. The entrepreneur can hire a professional in the field or strategically invest in paid media to increase the brand’s reach and attract new customers.
• Work leads for better sales conversion: if you already have a contact base, invest in qualifying these leads to increase the chances of sales conversion. Currently, there are AI tools, accessible even for small businesses, that help analyze and segment this data.

1. Manage finances efficiently: have full visibility over income and expenses. A well-defined budget is essential to control the business and make good decisions.
2. Separate your personal finances from the company’s finances: mixing the two financial profiles is a common mistake. Having separate accounts helps to better understand the financial health of the company.
3. Reinvest profits: when starting to profit, invest in reinvesting resources for business acceleration. You can do this through new products, increasing marketing efforts, or by hiring personnel.
4. Build a solid network of relationships: strategic partnerships, mentoring, and even new clients can arise from a well-built network. Networking is an important asset for those starting out.
5. Seek feedback continuously: embrace feedback and be mature enough to implement improvements if necessary.
6. Have a long-term vision: entrepreneuring with few resources requires resilience. Staying focused on a sustainable model helps overcome challenges and continue growing consistently.

“It is very important to maintain your vision beyond the first few months or the first year of business because entrepreneuring with few resources requires a lot of patience and focus on a sustainable model. Having this long-term perspective will help not to be discouraged by the setbacks that arise in the short term,” concludes the CEO.