SBDC: The Great Small Business Plateau: Why Growth Stalls After Early Success

Patrick Lee explores a challenge faced by many successful small business owners, the moment when growth slows, complexity increases, and progress feels harder instead of easier. Known as the Great Small Business Plateau, this stage occurs when the systems, habits, and structures that once supported growth begin to limit it. This session helps business owners understand why working harder no longer produces the same results and why this plateau is not a failure, but a predictable stage of business development. Presenter, Patrick Lee; Chesapeake Think Tank | Spark Business Institute