Why Revenue Growth Feels Amazing, Until It Doesn’t
- Quirk & Co Allan
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
You know that rush when sales jump? Feels like you’ve cracked the code. The inbox is pinging, the orders are rolling, and you start googling “best waterfront office views.”
Here’s the part no one brags about: revenue growth feels amazing until it doesn’t. Because if your costs are ballooning faster than your sales, that “growth” is just running harder on a treadmill and you’re still going nowhere.
The Growth Mirage
“Revenue” (all the money your business earns before expenses) is the number everyone loves to talk about. It’s big, shiny, and looks great in a spreadsheet.
But here’s the catch: revenue doesn’t tell you how much of that money you actually keep. A record-breaking sales month can still leave you short on cash if:
Costs balloon alongside sales (new staff, higher supplier bills, more marketing spend).
Discounts drive volume but slash margins (selling more, keeping less).
Growth dollars aren’t tracked (no idea if the spend is paying for itself).
It’s like filling a bucket with a leak in the bottom — you’re pouring more in, but you’re not actually keeping any more water.
The Framework for Checking Real Growth
Before you pop the champagne on a sales spike, run this quick 3-step check:
Compare gross profit margins (the percentage of sales you actually keep after costs of sales).
Look for what percentage of sales you actually kept before and after the growth?
Check the real cost of growth.
What did it take (in real dollars) to get those extra sales?
Assess sustainability.
Can this growth continue without another massive cash outlay or push?
If those answers don’t feel right, chances are the growth isn’t either.
Why Profit Beats Revenue Every Time
Profit (what’s left in your pocket after everything is paid) is the real measure of business health. It’s what lets you:
Hire when you want to, not because you’re drowning.
Build a buffer so a slow month doesn’t break you.
Invest in growth that doesn’t keep you awake at 3 a.m.
Revenue might get you applause. Profit pays for the encore.
How to Make Growth Stick
Set profit margin goals first — sales targets come second.
Track profit monthly (not just at EOFY) so you see trends before they bite.
Audit expenses quarterly — cut dead weight or negotiate better rates.
Build multiple income streams so one dip doesn’t take you out completely.
The VBA Difference
If your sales are up but your bank balance isn’t celebrating with you, it’s time to change the way you grow.
We’ll help you put profit first, so growth actually sticks — and sticks around.
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