SGP - Growth Lab

Late-paying customers can create a vicious cycle of strained vendor relationships, missed growth opportunities, and constant cash-flow anxiety. If your average invoice takes more than 45 days to clear, here’s a reorganized, four-pillar playbook to get payments rolling in faster and keep your business humming. 1. Evaluate & Standardize Your AR Operations A solid foundation prevents delays before they start. Diagnose your bottlenecks:  Export your aging report and slice it by customer, invoice size, and sales rep. Spot repeat late-payers or high-value invoices that routinely slip. Audit for accuracy:  Review “damaged” invoices to catch common errors incorrect PO numbers, tax-rate glitches, missing descriptions that stall payments. Document a 24-hour invoicing workflow:  Standardize your process so every bill goes out within one business day of delivery or milestone completion. Consistency reduces excuses. 2. Align Terms & Simplify Payment Options Make it easy and re...

At Sweeney Growth Partners, we know that culture is more than ping-pong tables and casual Fridays, it’s the strategic foundation that ties every facet of your business together. Research shows that organizations with a strong, cohesive culture outperform their peers by up to  147% in earnings per share  and enjoy  50% lower turnover ¹. To harness that power, focus on the “5 Ps” of culture: People, Products, Processes, Platforms, and Purpose. 1. People: Your Most Valuable Asset Why it matters:  Engaged employees drive innovation, deliver better customer experiences, and stay longer. Gallup finds that highly engaged teams are  21% more profitable  and see  65% fewer safety incidents ². Action steps: Invest in ongoing leadership coaching. Companies that dedicate  5% of payroll  to development see  24% higher profit margins ³. Launch quarterly pulse surveys and act on feedback within  30 days  to maintain trust and momentum. Celebr...

In today’s fast-paced marketplace, effective communication isn’t just “nice to have”, it’s a strategic imperative. Whether you’re leading a small team or steering a rapidly growing company, the way you share information, ideas, and feedback will make or break your ability to execute strategy, delight customers, and adapt to change. 1. Drives Organizational Alignment Clear, consistent messaging ensures everyone understands company goals, priorities, and their individual role in achieving them. When leaders articulate vision and expectations well, teams spend less time guessing and more time executing. According to one study, organizations with strong internal communication practices are 3.5× more likely to outperform their peers¹. 2. Fuels Collaboration and Innovation Open channels whether face-to-face huddles, video conferences, or instant messaging create the connective tissue that sparks new ideas. When employees feel comfortable sharing insights and challenges, cross-functional silo...

In 2025, there are over  6.7 billion  smartphone users worldwide, nearly  85%  of the global population and the average person spends  3.7 hours  per day in mobile apps, not browsers. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), a dedicated app isn’t just a digital brochure it’s your most direct, measurable path to customer acquisition, engagement, and revenue growth. Here’s the data behind why going mobile pays off. 1. Meet Customers on Their Home Screen 85% smartphone penetration  in key markets means your customers carry your logo with them 24/7. 90% of mobile time  is spent inside apps, versus just 10% in web browsers. Instant recall:  Brands with icons on the home screen see a  25% uplift  in unaided brand awareness. By replacing search-and-bookmark friction with one-tap access, you slot seamlessly into customers’ routines and keep your offers front of mind. 2. Drive Engagement & Foster Loyalty Push notifications  boast ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operate. With the global AI market projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2031 and 40% of small businesses already using generative AI tools as of 2024, integrating AI is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a strategic imperative for growth and resilience  Shopify . Here are the top five reasons SMBs need to integrate AI today: 1. Boost Efficiency and Productivity AI excels at automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks—everything from scheduling and invoice processing to basic customer inquiries. According to ...

As the weather heats up, shoppers are primed to refresh their wardrobes, upgrade their outdoor gear, and treat themselves to seasonal experiences. To capture this surge in spending and build long-term loyalty, retailers must act now. Below, we outline five high-impact strategies backed by the latest market data and consumer trends. 1. Refresh Your Seasonal Merchandise Mix Why it matters:  Summer apparel, outdoor living products, and travel-ready accessories consistently outperform other categories during the June–August period. Data point:  NRF projects overall retail sales will grow  2.5–3.5%...

  At  Sweeney  Growth  Lab,  we’ve  spent  decades  helping  companies  from  scrappy  startups  to  established  family  businesses  unlock  their  full  potential.  In  today’s  fast- paced,  hyper- competitive  landscape,  small  businesses  face  both  unprecedented  challenges  and  opportunities.  To  thrive,  it’s  no  longer  enough  to  simply “ stay  afloat.”  You  need  to  build  a  foundation  that’s  resilient,  scalable,  and  laser- focused  on  delivering  value.  Here  are  the  key “ musts”  every  small  business  should  embrace. 1.  Nail  Your  Digital  Presence Website  as  Hub:   Your  website  is...