How long does it really take to scale a business from $10 million to $100 million?

After 25 years of working with business owners and seeing a number of clients make that journey, Chris Green has been thinking about what it practically takes and why simply working harder isn't the answer.

In this episode of The Green Room, Chris breaks the journey down into three distinct stages: $10M–$30M, where you build the machine; $30M–$60M, where you build the leaders; and $60M–$100M, where you build the portfolio.

Because growth at this level isn't a ramp, it's a staircase. At every stage, the business needs to change its structure, its people, its systems and, importantly, the role of the owner.

Chris explores why scaling from $10M to $100M could take anywhere from four to twelve years, depending on how you fund growth, the role acquisitions can play, and how effectively the business can operate without everything running through you.

He also unpacks three principles that underpin the journey, including why growth eats cash and the five things that must be true if you're serious about building a $100 million business.

If you're sitting around that $7M–$12M mark and wondering what it will really take to break through the next ceiling, this episode gives you plenty to think about.

Are you feeling the headwinds in business at the moment?

You’re not imagining it.

Decisions are taking longer. Businesses are being more cautious. Deals that once moved quickly seem to be taking an eternity.

And when that happens, it’s very easy to put your head down, work harder and try to push through it.

But is that actually the best way to deal with a challenging market?

In this week’s episode of The Green Room Podcast, I talk about what the Tour de France can teach us about riding into a headwind, why a challenging market doesn’t necessarily mean reinventing what you do, and something I think a lot of business owners need to hear right now.

Because you don’t have to face these headwinds alone.

Every business owner makes decisions that feel right in the moment. But what if those same decisions are quietly reducing the value of your business over the long term?

In this episode of The Green Room, Chris Green explores why so many business owners prioritise today's wins over tomorrow's opportunities, and how this pattern can influence everything from growth and differentiation to the eventual value of the business.

Through real client examples and practical insights, Chris challenges you to think differently about the choices you're making today—and whether they're helping you build a business that's not only successful now, but valuable in the future.

If you're serious about creating a business that stands out, grows sustainably and is worth more tomorrow than it is today, this episode is one you won't want to miss.