The objective of this research is to review and unify the empirical literature that identifies the determining factors for firm growth. A list of 165 articles forms the backbone of the present review of the empirical literature on firm growth. Based on this review, we provide a synthesis of numerous determinant factors associated with firm growth. Specifically, we enumerate and detail the determining factors in three blocks: entrepreneur’s idiosyncratic features, firm’s internal factors, and factors external to the firm. The work provides a better understanding of the complex process of growth, shows the shortcomings in empirical research on the growth of the firm and presents directions for future research.

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How do firms grow? The objective of this research is to review and unify the literature that identifies Modes, Paths and Strategies available for firms to promote growth. The sample, selected from the Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases, comprises 115 works published between 1957 and 2021. This research offers three contributions to the firms' growth literature. Firstly, it unifies the literature on different modes of growth, into three main categories: organic, inorganic and hybrid. Secondly, it links these modes of growth with different strategic paths. Thirdly, it reviews the determinant strategies for firms’ growth and relates them to different modes of growth. We conclude that the literature on Modes, Paths and Strategies, both at the theoretical and empirical level, is far from being conclusive. Based on these insights, a new research agenda is proposed.