Critical Mass

Critical mass is the point at which a growing company becomes self-sustaining, and no longer needs additional investment to remain economically viable. It is a crucial stage in the development of a growing company. It is the point at which the business becomes profitable enough to continue growing by itself and no longer requires investment from outsiders.

When companies reach critical mass, their leaders may face a decision whether to seek continued rapid growth or to focus on consolidating the firm’s market position and improving operations.

The initial growth of a company requires investment. When a business first opens, it must first have invested in building the capacity necessary to deliver the goods or services it intends to sell to customers before it begins to generate revenue. The company must grow to the point that it can repay its initial investors for the capital they have provided as well as bring in enough money to function without additional investment. When these conditions have been met, the company has reached critical mass. The concept of critical mass should not be confused with the concept of economies of scale, which refers to the point at which a company can continue to grow even while decreasing investment in growth.

The term critical mass is borrowed from nuclear physics, where it refers to the smallest mass that can sustain a nuclear reaction at a constant level. In both physics and finance, it refers to a point at which a self-sustaining state is reached. The reaction metaphor also evokes a company’s drive for growth. While a company can be self-sustaining at operating capacities higher than its critical mass, the firm’s managers should ensure that additional growth is sustainable. Many young companies view achieving sustainability as an opportunity to expand, but it can be difficult to manage growth in the fast-growing new industries in which many new companies operate.

Adding clients and revenue is always desirable for a company, but it requires additional investment to fulfill the company's commitments to its customers. Increased business does not automatically generate higher profits. Many companies have collapsed after expanding too quickly and spending more than the new business brought in.