branch out

start doing something new or different, especially in your work or business

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What does "branch out" mean?

To branch out means to expand what you already do into something new or different — typically in a professional or business context. The key idea is that you have an established base and you are now diversifying or adding new activities to it, rather than starting completely from scratch. A chef who has run a restaurant for years might branch out into writing cookbooks; a software company might branch out into hardware. The phrase carries a sense of confidence and initiative — it suggests a deliberate, positive move outward from a comfortable position. It is equally at home in business journalism, job interviews, and everyday conversation about career development.

Examples

How to use it

branch out into + area

The most common pattern, used to specify the new field or activity being entered.

The publisher has recently branched out into podcasting and audio content.

branch out beyond + previous limit

Used when the emphasis is on moving past a former boundary or restriction.

The brand decided to branch out beyond its traditional customer base and target younger audiences.

branch out on your own

Used when someone leaves an organisation to work independently, often starting their own business.

After nearly a decade at the agency, he felt ready to branch out on his own.

want / decide / plan / hope + to branch out

Branch out frequently follows modal or intentional verbs when describing a goal or planned expansion.

The family business is planning to branch out into event catering next spring.

branch out (without specifying the new area)

When the context is already clear, you can use branch out without saying exactly where — the expansion itself is the focus.

She'd been a freelance illustrator for years and felt it was finally time to branch out.

Common Collocations

branch out into new marketsbranch out on your ownbranch out into retailbranch out beyond the core businessdecide to branch outbranch out into new areas

Common Mistakes

Using a direct object

Branch out is intransitive, so you cannot place a noun directly after 'out'. Use 'into' to introduce the new area instead.

✗ They branched out catering to grow the business.
✓ They branched out into catering to grow the business.
Confusing 'branch out' with 'branch off'

'Branch off' describes something diverging or splitting away — a road, a path, or a conversation — while 'branch out' is specifically about expanding into new professional or business activities. They are not interchangeable.

✗ The company branched off into new markets last year.
✓ The company branched out into new markets last year.
Using it when there is no existing base

Branch out implies that the subject already does something and is now diversifying. If someone is entering a field for the very first time with no prior foothold, 'break into' is more natural than 'branch out'.

✗ She branched out into law with no prior experience in any professional field.
✓ She broke into law with no prior experience in any professional field.

Usage

Branch out is neutral in register and works in both business contexts and personal/career discussions. It is most commonly followed by 'into' to specify the new area, e.g. 'branch out into technology'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'branch out' to talk about personal hobbies, or is it only for business?

It works in both contexts, though it is most common in professional or business settings. You can say 'I've been cooking the same dishes for years — I want to branch out and try new cuisines', though in a purely personal context, something like 'try new things' might feel equally natural. In career or business discussions, 'branch out' is a very strong and idiomatic choice.

Why is the present perfect so common with 'branch out'?

The present perfect suits 'branch out' well because it highlights a change from a previous state that is still relevant now — for example, 'They've branched out into streaming' tells you about a shift that defines where the company is today. The past simple works too when you're narrating a specific decision, but the present perfect is especially natural when discussing how something has evolved.

Can I say 'branch out from' instead of 'branch out into'?

'Branch out from' is used when you want to emphasise what the subject is moving away from, rather than what they are moving towards — for example, 'She branched out from acting into directing'. You can also combine both: 'branch out from X into Y'. When only specifying the new area, 'into' is the natural choice on its own.

Does 'branch out' only refer to organisations, or can an individual use it?

Both individuals and organisations can branch out. A person might branch out in their career, as a freelancer, or by developing new skills. A company might branch out into new markets or product lines. The subject just needs to have an established activity to be expanding from.

Is 'branch out' ever used in the passive?

No — because 'branch out' is intransitive, it has no passive form. The subject is always the one doing the branching out. You cannot say 'new markets were branched out into'; instead, restructure to keep the active subject: 'the company branched out into new markets'.

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