Abstract
Purpose- There is a need to develop a framework that will improve the understandings of business planning and performance and its effects on growth particularly during the stages of small business development. The study attempted to fill in the gap stated. 
 Design - The single case qualitative study relates small business growth with strategic planning where financial performance, market share, sales, and profits or instead return on investment is used to measure the growth. Existing literature fails to establish a concrete relationship between strategic planning and growth of small businesses which indicates a gap in the literature that will help understand the steps of managing the organizational transition of small business growth. 
 Findings - The study fails to establish a significant relationship between formal planning and transitional growth, but instead found the influence of the planning process in communication the owner’s goals, vision, mission, and intentions to both internal and external stakeholders of small businesses. The study influence of the shared vision with customers on making them loyal and advertisers through word of mouth. The study revealed how customers’ word of mouth increased the customer base of small businesses thereby increasing the product demand and eventual expansion of capacity leading to the growth of small businesses. The growth of small businesses will result in an increased reduction in the unemployment rate which will reduce the poverty rate in the Nigerian economy. 
 Practical Implications- Answering the primary and supporting questions will help small business owners to understand how strategic planning is essential in the transitional growth of their businesses.
Highlights
The micro, small, and medium enterprises in Nigeria employed 80% of the country’s workforce (SMEDAN, 2013)
In Nigeria, over 80% of the workforce is employed by small businesses, and 97% of economic activities are provided by the sector (Adebisi & Gbegi, 2013; Shehu et al, 2013)
Increased level of poverty in the Nigerian economy resulted in the negative effect on the livelihood of the citizens. (Adebisi & Gbegi, 2013)
Summary
The micro, small, and medium enterprises in Nigeria employed 80% of the country’s workforce (SMEDAN, 2013). The study will enhance the growth of small businesses in the Nigerian economy through the understanding of the relationship between effective strategic planning and business growth. The study will provide information on the influence of strategic planning on stages of transitional growth of small businesses which can be used to assist managers, consultants, educators, researchers, and regulatory agencies within the Nigerian small business sector. The study answered the main research question of how strategic plan developed by small business owners helped in managing the transitional growth of small business at an early stage of one to five years? Flamholtz (1986) stressed strategic planning helped small business owners to manage their vision, mission, and desired outcomes of their businesses where growth occur at developmental stages of the ventures. This study focused on four aspects: strategic planning, small business strategic planning, small business growth, and how the three intersected and answered the research question; how strategic planning influenced communication between business owners/managers and stakeholders of small businesses assisting small businesses growth at developmental stages?
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