6 Growth Levers Every Entrepreneur Should Pull in 2025

Success in business has never been about standing still or adopting just about every new strategy that trends. Markets shift, technology advances, and customer expectations rise every year, all requiring constant readjustment. For entrepreneurs in 2025, the challenge is keeping up with these various changes and staying ahead by knowing which levers to pull for growth. With more than 665 million entrepreneurs worldwide this year, competition is fierce, but the opportunities are equally large. Below are seven key areas that can help you move your business forward.

Digital Transformation and Technology

As entrepreneurs continue to move their business dealings online, one of the biggest opportunities lies in automation and AI-driven analytics. Repetitive tasks such as scheduling, reporting, and even customer service can now be handled by software, freeing your team to focus on more specialty work. At the same time, AI tools can give better insights into customer behaviour, allowing you to make smarter decisions based on live data.

Pairing this with cloud-based systems lets your business operate from anywhere, which is especially important now that remote and hybrid work are becoming the norm. In the same way, industries like Australian casinos show us how online pokies are a way for players to enjoy entertainment and engagement without being tied to a physical location.

Allowing players to participate from home doesn’t mean they have to miss out on anything because there’s always a variety of games. According to Alex Hoffman from Card Player, online pokies come in all kinds of styles, such as progressive jackpots, classic three-reel, and megaways pokies. Variety is a good example of how your business can use digital platforms to create better customer experiences and keep them coming back.

Your website and mobile platforms should not act as simple brochures, but rather as mediums that attract, engage, and convert customers. Creating a smooth digital journey from initial contact on social media to post-purchase support will determine whether your customer returns or looks elsewhere.

It’s also a good idea to look into the upcoming technologies in your specific line of business. For instance, you might explore AI diagnostics as a healthcare business, while a retailer could benefit from automated supply chain systems.

Customer Acquisition and Retention

The next lever to pull is improving how you attract and retain customers, and personalisation should sit at the centre of your strategy. People now expect businesses to know their needs and anticipate their questions, spanning from targeted email campaigns to proactive customer support. The companies that get this right often find that their customers become advocates, bringing in referrals and strengthening brand loyalty.

Loyalty and rewards programs are also winning because they encourage repeat purchases as well as reduce churn, which is typically cheaper than constantly acquiring new customers. Only 30% of new businesses survive beyond 10 years, partly because acquiring new customers is expensive, which is why retention matters. Those that focus on long-term relationships, sustainability, and customer value are likely to continue existing decades from now.

To make sure your efforts pay off, you have to continually validate your product-market fit, and this means listening to feedback, running quick tests, and being open to refining your offer. A strong product that genuinely solves a customer’s problem will always cut through the noise of competition.

Brand and Community Building

Customers in 2025 connect with brands that feel authentic and purposeful, so where do you fit into this picture? Unfortunately, you have to invest in a brand identity that goes deeper than logos and colours. More than 50% of entrepreneurs now prioritise sustainability and customer relationships over short-term profit. Beyond the mechanics of having amazing sales reps and new technology, your brand identity is what gives your business staying power.

Instead of only promoting features or discounts, tell the bigger story behind your business or product. Why you started, the challenges you’ve faced, and the impact you want to create are all elements that help customers feel like part of your journey. A strong narrative, combined with consistent messaging, can turn customers into a genuine community that supports and willingly advocates for your brand.

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

No business grows in isolation, which is why partnerships and collaborations are powerful levers entrepreneurs can use to accelerate their growth. Forming alliances with complementary businesses allows you to tap into new audiences and share resources. For example, a fitness brand could partner with a nutrition company, creating bundled offers that benefit both sides.

These partnerships expand your reach without the full cost of building a new customer base from scratch. Collaboration can also mean working with influencers or technology providers. These partnerships often provide access to expertise, platforms, or credibility that would take years to build on your own. By focusing on mutual growth, rather than one-sided gain, collaborations can unlock opportunities far bigger than what you could achieve alone.

Team, Leadership, and Culture

Behind every successful business is a strong team that shares the same vision for the business as the owner. You simply cannot afford to compromise on attracting and retaining top talent in 2025. In addition to your strong team, it’s also your responsibility to create an environment that motivates them to perform better every day. Teams that feel valued, included, and empowered are more likely to innovate and stay committed to your mission.

This culture should encourage open communication, reward initiative, and create a space where employees can bring their best ideas forward. Employees also want to know that their career can progress with your business, whether through training, mentorship, or leadership pathways. As individuals with a common goal in mind, they become more motivated to contribute to the best of their ability when they see you investing in their futures too.

Market and Channel Expansion

Even with loyal customers, growth often requires expanding into new markets or channels that you’d normally not get into. The entrepreneurs who do well for themselves in 2025 will be those who actively seek new opportunities rather than waiting for them to appear. Market research is critical here as it allows you to spot untapped demographics, regions, or industry verticals that may be underserved.

Sometimes, growth doesn’t come from reinventing your product, but from bringing it to a new audience that needs it just as much. Expanding into new sales channels can also get you the results you’re looking for. E-commerce has been growing so quickly that global sales are expected to pass $4.3 trillion in 2025. Entrepreneurs who add online stores, join established marketplaces, or build retail partnerships gain access to new streams of revenue.

Conclusion

The year 2025 presents entrepreneurs with both challenges and big opportunities just waiting to be grabbed. With 73% of business owners reporting revenue increases in early 2025 and more than 78% optimistic about future growth, it’s clear that momentum is on your side. By focusing on these growth levers (digital transformation, customer experience, market expansion, brand building, partnerships, team culture, and plenty of research), you can position your business not just to survive but to thrive. Pulling the right levers at the right time is what will separate your business from stagnant ones. The choice, and the opportunity, is yours.