Scaling up an NDIS business requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. Here are some sensible questions to ask yourself before expanding: 

1. Financial Readiness 

• Do I have a clear understanding of my current financial position? 

• Can I sustain an increase in overhead costs before seeing additional revenue? 

• Do I have a budget for marketing, staff recruitment, and training? 

• How will I fund the expansion—through reinvestment, loans, or grants? 

2. Operational Capacity 

• Can my current systems handle more participants without compromising service quality? 

• Do I have enough staff, or will I need to recruit and train more team members? 

• Are my processes efficient enough, or do I need to automate/streamline workflows? 

• Do I have the right technology and software to manage a larger caseload? 

3. Compliance & Quality Assurance 

• Can I maintain NDIS compliance at a larger scale? 

• Are my policies and procedures robust enough for a bigger operation? 

• Will I need to upgrade my documentation, risk management, or reporting processes? 

• How will I ensure consistent quality across all locations or teams? 

4. Market Demand & Competition 

• Is there a demand for my services in the areas I want to expand into? 

• Who are my competitors, and how do I differentiate myself? 

• What feedback have I received from participants that could inform my growth strategy? 

• Am I expanding into a service area where I have expertise and credibility? 

5. Workforce & Leadership 

• Do I have a reliable and skilled team in place to support the expansion? 

• What leadership structure do I need to manage a larger operation? 

• How will I ensure that staff culture and values remain strong as I grow? 

• Do I have a staff retention and professional development strategy? 

6. Service Delivery & Participant Experience 

• Can I scale without sacrificing participant outcomes and satisfaction? 

• How will I maintain personal connections with participants as my business grows? 

• Do I have a feedback system to measure participant satisfaction and address concerns? 

• Am I prepared for the increased administrative burden that comes with growth? 

7. Marketing & Brand Awareness 

• Do I have a solid marketing strategy to attract new participants and referrers? 

• How will I communicate my growth plans to existing participants and stakeholders? 

• Am I leveraging social media, networking, and word-of-mouth referrals effectively? 

• Do I have strong relationships with support coordinators and industry professionals? 

8. Legal & Risk Management 

• Am I covered with the right insurances for a larger operation? 

• Have I considered the legal implications of hiring more staff or expanding locations? 

• Do I have a risk management plan in place for scaling up? 

• How will I handle complaints, incidents, and potential legal challenges? 

9. Personal Readiness 

• Am I prepared for the increased workload and responsibility that comes with scaling? 

• Do I have the right mindset and support system for growth? 

• How will I manage stress and maintain work-life balance during the expansion? 

• What professional development do I need to undertake to lead a bigger organisation? 

By answering these questions honestly, you’ll be in a strong position to make informed decisions about scaling your NDIS business. Let me know if you need help developing a strategy! 

If you think you fall short on any of the above, chances are you will put yourself, your business, your staff or participants at risk of harm. If you think a strategic scaling action plan is something you could follow, please make time with a consultant here: www.effectivepolicy.com.au/chat