How to Scale an Online Business: Tips from Kat Norton (Miss Excel)

Want to learn how to scale an online business?

What if you could take something as simple as Excel, and turn it into an eight-figure business?

That’s exactly what Kat Norton, also known as Miss Excel, did. Her story perfectly illustrates how to scale an online business using creativity, mindset, and strategy. She went from filming fun spreadsheet tutorials in her childhood bedroom to being featured in Forbes and Business Insider — and partnering directly with Microsoft.

This isn’t just a story about going viral. It’s about learning how to scale an online business by combining joy, flow, and belief in yourself.

How to Scale an Online Business: From Debt to an Eight-Figure Business

Before she mastered how to scale an online business, Kat was a 27-year-old consultant drowning in $80K of student debt, living at home, and working with Excel every day.

“I was looking for a side hustle,” she said. “Something to help me get out of my parents’ house.”

In 2020, during the pandemic, she began posting lighthearted Excel tutorials on TikTok. One went viral — then another — and soon, her videos were getting millions of views.

But even though she was attracting massive attention, she hadn’t yet learned how to scale an online business beyond social media fame. A business coach finally messaged her: “You have hundreds of thousands of followers. Where’s your offer?”

That message was the turning point. Kat filmed her first online Excel course, launched it on Black Friday 2020, and within weeks was earning more than her corporate salary. Two months later, she quit her job — officially beginning her journey of how to scale an online business with intention.

Building Systems to Scale an Online Business

Once Kat saw the potential, she built multiple courses teaching Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Sheets — and later expanded into mindset and productivity.

One of the biggest lessons she learned in how to scale an online business was to validate demand before creating a product.

“I started pre-selling courses before they were finished,” she shared. “It was nerve-wracking, but it ensured I had customers before I invested the time.”

That strategy not only minimized risk but also taught her the value of scalability — a foundational principle in how to scale an online business effectively.

Today, her digital courses are used by over 400 global companies, and her team supports B2B training, corporate workshops, and productivity programs.

The Mindset That Helps You Scale an Online Business

It’s easy to think Kat’s success came from timing or luck, but she attributes it to deep inner work — a core component of how to grow an online business sustainably.

“When the pandemic started, I finally slowed down and realized I didn’t love myself,” she explained. “I had so much anxiety and fear of being seen.”

Her path to learning how to grow an online business started with personal growth:

• Subconscious reprogramming and inner child work
• Breathwork and emotional regulation
• Visualization and manifestation practices inspired by Dr. Joe Dispenza

By healing her mindset, Kat aligned her energy with her vision. “By the time I launched Miss Excel, I had already become the person who could handle success,” she said. “That’s the secret to scale an online business — embody the next version of yourself before the results show up.”

Webinars and Evergreen Systems: My Favorite Lesson in How to Scale an Online Business

When Kat introduced webinars into her marketing, everything changed.

“The first webinar made $50,000 in 15 minutes,” she laughed. That was her first real taste of automated scaling — a hallmark of how to scale an online business effectively.

She went on to master evergreen webinars, allowing her to reach new customers daily without being tied to live sessions.

If you want to learn how to scale an online business like Miss Excel, automation and leverage are key. Systems allow you to focus on creativity and strategy instead of constant hustle.

The Team That Helps You Scale an Online Business

Kat’s current team includes a CMO, CFO, designers, and customer support specialists. But she didn’t start there.

At first, she did everything herself — a mistake many entrepreneurs make when learning how to scale an online business.

“I eventually realized I needed help,” she said. “I can’t be the CEO, the marketer, and the video editor at once.”

Building a team is essential to grow an online business long-term. It creates more time for innovation, growth, and rest.

Redefining Success

For Kat, success isn’t just about revenue. It’s about alignment.

“My biggest metric of success is joy,” she said. “When I’m happy, my customers are happy — and that energy naturally helps me scale my online business.”

Her story reminds every creator that growing an online business isn’t only about strategy. It’s also about sustainability — creating a business that supports your lifestyle, not one that drains it.

Lessons From Miss Excel

Here are the key takeaways from Kat’s journey:

1. Start messy. Don’t wait for perfect conditions — momentum creates clarity.
2. Build community before product. Serve your audience first.
3. Automate and delegate early. Systems create freedom.
4. Invest in mindset. Energy drives execution.
5. Lead with authenticity. Personality beats polish every time.

Final Thoughts

Kat Norton’s story proves that success isn’t reserved for tech founders or marketing gurus. Anyone can learn grow their online business when they combine purpose, mindset, and execution.

She started with a simple idea — making spreadsheets fun — and turned it into a global movement because she dared to show up fully as herself.

Start with what lights you up. Joy is magnetic. And when you build from that place, everything else follows.

✨ Follow your spark — even spreadsheets can become the foundation of your dream business.

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