Get All Access for $5/mo

The Highly Profitable Growth Strategy that Probably Isn't on Your Radar but Should Be Growth through acquisition can be adapted to any size business.

By Dixie Gillaspie Edited by Heather Wilkerson

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Audtakorn Sutarmjam | EyeEm | Getty Images

Most company founders didn't start a business to stay small. So assuming that you that founded your business with the intention of growing it, when you look at your growth plan one question you may not be asking yourself is, "What business can I go out and buy?"

There are a number of reasons entrepreneurs fail to ask that question. You may think of your business as your "baby," and the idea of buying someone else's business is like adopting a kid you don't even know. You may think you can't finance an acquisition. Or you may think acquisitions are for the big players and their strategies don't apply to you.

The truth is that growth through acquisition is a strategy that can be adapted to any size business. It just depends on what you want to do.

Related: 4 Models for Building Value Through Acquisitions

You want to gain market share.

The most obvious reason to consider an acquisition is to eliminate a competitor. One advantage to buying a direct competitor's business is that you already know the industry. You're better prepared to take over operations. You may also be able to meld their operation into your facility, or you may be able to expand your existing operation due to taking over their space. One caveat -- be sure the seller will support the transition, or at least stay out of the way. Seller's remorse really is a thing, and it's expensive. You may be able to build in an incentive for the seller to support you by negotiating seller financing. That can help you finance the deal, and makes the seller's payout somewhat dependent on your success.

Related: How to Position Your Business for a Strategic Acquisition

You want to expand into a new market.

No matter how well-recognized your brand may be in one region, getting a foothold in a new market can be tough. Whether you're expanding to a different state or a different country, purchasing a recognized brand can catapult you into a competitive position. Purchasing two or more and consolidating them under a flagship brand can do that fairly quickly. That was the tactic used by Altice, originally based in the Netherlands, when they purchased Suddenlink in 2015, followed by Cablevision, which offered high-speed internet and cable services under the Optimum brand name, in 2016. They became the fourth-largest U.S. cable provider, went public in June 2017 with a $2.2 billion initial offering, and plan to consolidate the brands this year.

If you're a smaller company or recent startup, chances are you aren't looking at spending billions, going public or becoming the fourth largest player in a national market. But if you're looking to take on a new geographic market, you can use this same approach by looking for acquisitions that, if consolidated, could catapult you into a top competitive spot immediately.

You want to diversify.

Perhaps the most newsworthy acquisition of 2017 was the Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods. A classic example of diversification into a related market, you can learn a lot from the rationale behind this deal. Amazon gained brick and mortar locations where they are now selling their popular tech products, plus entered into the fresh grocery market while also offering the Whole Foods 365 brand products online. Add to that the ability to lower prices and take aim at Walmart and Trader Joe's, and you've got a real winner of a deal to study.

Related: How the Amazon Whole Foods Acquisition Will Disrupt Food Marketing

There is a clue to how you can profit from diversification -- by looking for related or complementary businesses that offer you something you don't have, but also allow you to apply your competitive advantages to make your newly acquired business even more successful.

Whatever your company's market position, size or age, a properly structured acquisition can yield a much higher return than any marketing campaign or efficiency study. And it will keep paying dividends for years to come.

Dixie Gillaspie

Writer, Coach, Lover of Entrepreneurship

Ever since she was a little girl, Dixie’s least favorite word was "can’t." It still is. She's on a mission to prove that anything is possible, for anyone, but she's especially fond of entrepreneurs. She's good at seeing opportunities where other people see walls, navigating crossroads where other people see dead ends, and unwrapping the gifts of adversity and struggle. Dixie also contributes to Huffington Post and is a senior managing editor for The Good Man Project.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Melinda French Gates Announces Open Call for $250 Million Fund. Here's Who Can Apply.

The fund is part of French Gates's $1 billion philanthropic plan.

Business News

Has the Secret Identity of the Inventor of Bitcoin Been Revealed? A New Documentary Suggests It's Solved.

A new HBO documentary stirs controversy in its quest to expose Bitcoin's inventor.

Business News

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Isn't Worried About AI Taking Over Jobs — Here's Why

Dimon said AI was part of the next wave of tech innovation.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Daniel Lubetzky Took Kind Snacks From Idea to $5 Billion. Here's His Best Advice For Anyone Who Wants to Start a Business.

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky tells aspiring business owners not to follow someone else's path to success — even his.