BE HONEST AND HAVE A STRONG MORAL PRINCIPLES

INTEGRITY

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. It is generally a personal choice to uphold oneself to consistently moral and ethical standards

Furthermore, according to Merriam-Webster, Integrity is defined as:

1          firm adherence to a code of (especially) moral or artistic values :  incorruptibility

2          an unimpaired condition :  soundness

3          the quality or state of being complete or un-divided :  completeness

Among other shortcomings of most of Small Scale Business owners is lack of integrity. 

The Importance of Integrity in Business
In the contemporary business world, integrity is one of the most sought-after qualities not only of individual employees, but of companies. An in-depth look at integrity reveals why it is so fundamental to business.
The Meaning of Integrity In Business
People often define integrity as doing the right thing even when no one else is around. It is the ability to act with honesty and be consistent in whatever it is you are doing based on the particular moral, value or belief compass you have. Beliefs, values and morals all relate to the culture in which you operate, so culture plays a role in determining exactly what integrity involves.
How is Integrity in Business Helpful
Trust
At the most basic level, all business relationships are built on trust. This is true for both employer-employee and company-consumer relationships. To trust someone or an agency means that you feel confident in their ability to be fair and respectful, do what was promised and act responsibly.
When trust is in place in a business, employers and employees are open with each other. They are not afraid to express their true views or opinions. This type of communicative environment lets employers give their employees a certain amount of independence, even when those employees are assigned to groups or teams. In return for this independence, employees exercise increased creativity, which ultimately lets a company or businessperson adapt to the ever-changing marketplace to stay competitive. Creativity also lets employees feel as though they have contributed something special, can be proud of their work and are more closely connected to the business. That feeling can keep employees from seeking employment elsewhere or asking for additional perks and compensation.
Trust and integrity are inextricably connected. Individuals and organizations use the presence or absence of integrity to determine whether an extension of trust is warranted. Business relationships halt or proceed based on this basic determination.

Reputation
Businesses are heartily concerned with their reputation—that is, they care what the public thinks about them. This is because reputation is connected to operations. The higher a company’s reputation, the more business it usually draws. The lower a company’s reputation, the harder it is for the company to gain and retain customers and workers.
When a company acts with integrity, it builds trusting relationships with employees and customers. Its reputation rises as a result, positively affecting productivity and sales. When a company fails to act with integrity, however, the public’s view of the business becomes more negative. Over time, this can mean customers turn away and employees leave, drastically lowering the company’s profit margin.

If your business is to grow therefore you must maintain high level of integrity.