The pre-start stage for most entrepreneurs can be fairly chaotic. Often people think about starting their business for a long time before they actually do it. During the pre-start phase you need to do your research and speak to other people who can help you develop your ideas and build a business model which is desirable, feasible and viable.

This usually encompasses the start-up phase of a business and the first 12 months of trading. During this stage the entrepreneur is likely to make most of their mistakes. So it's important that they take advantage of any professional business support which is available. 

Having established the business the entrepreneur needs to think about a strategy for growth. This growth could be financial, strategic or could involve expanding into new markets. In either case, deciding whether to grow the business and how to do it is a critical decision for the entrepreneur.