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.

No business owner sets out to build a life where they're constantly busy, stressed and too time-poor to enjoy the things that matter most. Yet for many, that's exactly where they end up.

In this episode of The Green Room, Chris challenges a simple but powerful question:

Are you building the successful business you say you want, or the one your diary proves you're building?

Drawing on insights from Seth Godin, Michael Gerber and Molly Bloom, Chris explores why so many business owners become trapped working in their business instead of deliberately building one that creates freedom.

You'll discover:

• Why being busy isn't the same as being successful.
• The hidden cost of becoming the bottleneck in your business.
• Four lessons high-performing entrepreneurs have in common.
• How calculated risk, persistence and challenging the status quo create long-term growth.
• Practical ways to build a business that works for you—not because of you.

If you're ready to stop surviving your business and start intentionally building one that gives you the freedom you originally set out to create, this episode is for you.

Nobody Is in a Hurry... But You – Why buyers are delaying decisions and what business owners should do instead.

In this episode of The Green Room with Chris Green, Chris explores why so many businesses are experiencing slower client decisions despite strong enquiry levels. Learn why discounting often makes the problem worse, how to protect your cash flow during uncertain markets, and practical strategies including better contract terms, cash flow forecasting, pipeline management and smarter client conversations. If your sales pipeline has slowed and you're wondering how to respond without sacrificing profitability, this episode provides practical business advice to help you navigate today's market with confidence.

From the outside, entrepreneurship can look exciting: freedom, growth, building something from nothing, and being your own boss. But as businesses grow, so does the weight of responsibility. More people depend on you, more decisions rest on your shoulders, and it can begin to feel like fewer people truly understand what you're navigating.

In this episode of The Green Room, Chris Green explores the hidden isolation that often comes with leadership and business ownership. Drawing on his own experience and lessons learned from working with business owners for more than 25 years, Chris unpacks why this feeling is more common than many realise and why trying to carry the burden alone is rarely the answer.

Chris shares insights on the value of mentors, advisors, and independent perspectives, and explains why the most successful business owners aren't those who do everything themselves, but those who have the right people in their corner.

Because the goal was never just to build a successful business. The goal was to build a successful business and still have a life worth living when you get there.

What if the right senior hire could transform your business and create the freedom you've been working towards? In this episode of The Green Room, Chris Green explores why experienced leaders are becoming more accessible, the mistakes many business owners make when recruiting, and the four critical steps to preparing your business for a successful General Manager or senior leadership hire. Learn how to build capability, create accountability, and reduce founder dependence so your business can thrive without relying on you for every decision.

In this episode of The Green Room, Chris Green explores one of the most important financial lessons every business owner needs to understand: it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep.

Most business owners can tell you what their business turned over last year.

Far fewer can tell you what they actually kept.

And that’s the number that really matters.

In this episode, I share four practical strategies to help you keep more of what your business earns.

We talk about:

• Why turnover is only part of the story

• How to stop treating tax money as your money

• Getting your team involved in managing costs

• Finding hidden savings in your overheads and subscriptions

At the end of the day, profit gives you choices. It gives you the ability to reinvest, build stronger systems, reward your team and create a business that supports the life you want to live.

If you’ve ever looked at your revenue and wondered where the money went, this episode is for you