Scalable Companies FAQ

Scalable Companies

How do I know if my business is scalable?

Scalability means your business can grow revenue significantly without a matching increase in costs or resources. In other words, it’s built to expand efficiently. Not every business is designed to scale—and that’s okay—but if you’re aiming for high growth, these are the key ways to evaluate your model. Ask yourself:

Can I increase sales without increasing my time or team size proportionally?
Is there a large (or growing) market for what I offer?
Can parts of my operations be automated or digitized?
Does my business model attract investment or offer strong margins?

If your answer to the above is “yes”, your business is probably scaleable and you can fill out a Founder application to get started.

Brick-and-Mortar Businesses

Can a brick-and-mortar business be scalable?

Absolutely— just think of Chipotle (founded by an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur).

Brick-and-mortar businesses can be highly scalable when they’re built on systems that allow for consistent replication and efficiency. Models that use franchising, licensing, or standardized operations can expand across locations without reinventing the wheel each time. The key is designing a business that can grow without depending heavily on the original founder’s time, location, or direct oversight.

Company Not Scalable

What if my business isn’t scalable?

Many in our community run local, service-based, or independently owned businesses that prioritize long-term sustainability over rapid growth. While StartOut’s core programs are tailored for founders building scalable ventures, our digital and in-person events are open to the wider entrepreneurial community.

Becoming a Scalable Company

What if I want to transition into scalability?

StartOut is here for you! Whether you’re exploring digital tools, productizing services or seeking capital for growth, our programs and strategic support are designed to help you scale. Fill out a Founder application to indicate your interest and plans to transition into a scalable business.

Join StartOut

Since 2009, StartOut has built a community of over 26,000 members. Every year, we provide support to over 700 individual founders. We connect them to expertise, peers, community, and capital. This powerful combination of financial support, skills development, and community contributes to helping fuel innovation, wealth generation and equal access to economic opportunity. Join our growing community today.