I would submit that in the phrase 'to grow
something'
AHD's first definition of the transitive verb, '[t]o cause to grow,' fits businesses better than it does tulips. The tulip grower does nothing to cause the tulips to grow. He merely sets up the conditions that allow the tulip to grow by themselves. A businessman puts a lot of effort into causing a business to grow.
You think so?
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To increase in size by a natural process .Many companies do not grow by natural processes, as we may well be aware of these days. Yes, a lot of effort and artistry is put into causing artificial growth of businesses. Quick growth, quick sales, quick money. Who cares?
TRANSITIVE VERB:
1. To cause to grow; raise: grow tulips. The tulip business, where a lot of effort is put into also, is threatened lately by the building maffs, who want the tulip raising business to move away so they can take the land behind the dunes for building luxury housing, stealing the last open parts in the already overpopulated West of the country.
Ground that has the only type of soil tulips thrive on.
(tulips don't grow by themselves unless they grow in in the wild in the Middle East)
