How Can I Pivot My Small Business?
Pivoting your business is one of the most common topics in my business advisory sessions with clients.
A successful pivot can revitalize your business, open up new revenue streams, get you doing work you enjoy, and—of course—help you get paid!
But pivoting isn’t something you do on a whim; it takes intentionality and a solid plan.
Whether you’re pivoting because of a market shift, personal passion, or a new opportunity, here’s a practical guide to making the move with clarity and confidence.
4 Steps to Take to Pivot to Your Small Business Successfully
1. Asses Your Current Business Offerings
Pivoting doesn’t mean throwing everything out the window. It’s often about leveraging what’s already working and redirecting it toward something new.
Plus, unless you’re ready to rebuild your business entirely from scratch, it’s usually best to pivot in stages so you don’t lose a ton of income and have to claw it back.
To start, take stock of your current offerings: What’s selling well, and what isn’t? Are specific services or products consistently in demand while others struggle to gain traction?
This can tell you much about where there’s actual demand versus where you may be misaligned with the market, under-marketing, or even mispriced.
Sometimes, getting a second set of eyes on this step is incredibly helpful; as CEOs, we’re often attached to our offerings, making it difficult to see what is and isn’t working from an outside perspective.
2. Map Out Your Business’ Desired State After the Pivot
Once you’ve taken a good look at your current offerings, map out your ideal future state.
What does your business look like post-pivot? What are your core offerings, how much are you charging, and how much revenue will they generate each year? And beyond revenue: How does this pivot affect your workload?
Aim to outline a week in your ideal work life—think hours, schedule, and the types of clients you’re serving.
Creating a clear vision of where you want to go is essential. It not only gives you a direction but also a practical benchmark. You’ll know what you’re aiming for, which makes the pivot process much more actionable and less overwhelming.
3. Test & Learn With Small Pivots in Your Business
Before diving in headfirst, start by testing the waters with small steps. Think of launching a beta version, offering a limited-time service, or piloting a new product. This way, you can gather real data and feedback without betting all your resources on a single move.
It’s tempting—especially if you’re feeling burnt out—to want to leave behind your old offerings as quickly as possible.
But practically speaking, holding onto those core offerings for a bit longer can help sustain your income and maintain client trust while you explore this new direction. Take one or two small steps toward the pivot, assess the results, and gather feedback before making further adjustments. Treat this as a learning phase, and don’t rush it. These early insights can be invaluable as you refine and strengthen your pivot.
4. Reasses After Every Small Business Pivot
After each step, reassess. How close are you to that future state you mapped out? Are you getting the kind of clients, revenue, and work-life balance you’re aiming for? Take your next move, gather feedback, integrate the insights, and keep iterating until you’re fully pivoted.
As you make each move, try not to get stuck in overthinking.
I’m a big believer in the 80% rule: Getting something 80% perfect and out the door is better than endlessly fine-tuning and not making progress.
With each iteration, you’ll get closer to your goal, and the feedback loop will keep you on track!
Why Every Business Owner Should Learn to Embrace the Change
Pivoting is more than just a new direction; it’s an opportunity to evolve, learn, and make your business a more true reflection of your goals and values.
So, if you’re navigating a pivot and could use support, feel free to reach out!
I specialize in helping business owners make confident, profitable pivots, and I’d love to support you in this exciting new phase of your journey.
