As is true in many aspects of life, how you begin often determines how you will finish up in the end. The initial step is the most important of the entire process. 

Small businesses that want to thrive in this process must surround themselves with a skilled team of experts, each of whom has a proven track record of successfully bringing OTC companies to the next level (e.g. NASDAQ Capital Market). 

As a general rule, a skilled and experienced consulting team (e.g. Pithz) should serve as the whole process's planner, to assist in the company in laying out the overall strategy and ensuring that the team of professionals stays on track to fulfill each of the company's objectives throughout the entire process.