Welcome to the era of measured growth

As a member firm of the global Nexia network, Pilot Partners is pleased to share insights from the inaugural Nexia Global Growth Insights Survey, which explores how growth-focused businesses are navigating uncertainty while balancing ambition with risk.

What does it take to grow a company?

It is one of the most important questions markets can face. Without growth-minded companies, economies stagnate. When entrepreneurs and business leaders are able to start and scale companies, they create economic and employment opportunities, driving individual and national confidence. All over the world, governments and financial institutions are striving to create the conditions for growth companies to flourish.

Nexia have launched this Nexia Global Growth Insights Survey to build an understanding of the mindset of growth. Wherever they are in the world, what is the outlook growth leaders share? Do they have something in common? And if they do, how can all those with a stake in growth – investors, policymakers, advisers, the public – best support the people who are driving economic progress?

As a leading worldwide network of independent accounting and consulting firms, Nexia is uniquely qualified to provide this insight. In recent years, Nexia has expanded to a network of 207 member firms across 118 countries. This gives them an understanding of the core questions: the ideal revenue targets, the risks that emerge with scale, and how to finesse management styles for rapid and sustainable growth.

Survey Methodology

Nexia invited a hand-picked cohort of 179 predominantly mid-sized companies from their client base to participate in the survey. Answers were given in Q1 2026. Around 80% of respondents have an annual turnover of between $5m and $999m. A handful are smaller than this range, and four respondents have a turnover of more than $1bn. Employee headcount is also mid-range – 56% in the 51-500 range, with 26% under 50. One in 10 has a headcount of more than 1,000. Collectively, respondents’ companies employ an estimated 213,000 people worldwide.

The location of company headquarters spans Europe (63%), North America (7%), Asia-Pacific (27%), and Africa and the Middle East (3%). Respondents are from all sectors, with manufacturing and engineering (19%), retail and wholesale (10%), construction (8%), and professional services (7%) the leading industries.

The growth formula

The Nexia Global Growth Insights Survey reveals an appetite for growth across the world’s leading economies. The hunger to grow your market, to launch new products and to expand into new markets is near-universal.

That, in itself, is reassuring. The world needs growth-minded companies.

This first full set of findings adds depth of insight and nuance to our understanding of the outlook of growth companies.

Learn more

To learn more from the valuable perspectives of business leaders from around the world, access the full report here.