Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We`ve had lots of debate here at StartupNation about whether sole proprietors and/or microbiz owners really want to "grow" their businesses, or if the whole point of being your own boss for many of you is to keep your business just the size it is, so you can maintain some work/life balance. 

I`d love to hear what your plan is if you are a sole proprietor or someone with 1-2 employees - do you want to expand into new product lines, add employees, maybe move out of your home (if you`re home-based) into an office space or retail storefront someday?  Or is the size of your business just perfect the way it is??

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Jessica Schlick StartupNation

I really think it depends on your ambitions. We plan on moving into a brick and mortor store front, and then growing our business in various locations. I think the debate about growth is trust. How much are you willing to trust your employees to grow with you. If you have good employees who take ownership in your business, growth should not be an issue that affect work and life balance. It would also depend on what type of management style you have that could affect your life balance.

I don`t want to work outside my house. The whole point is that I now don`t commute, and don`t use all that gas!

I feel like I have grown from an IC to a business owner with employees.
But I still don`t want an office!

I, too, don`t want to work outside my house.  I would like to eventually build myself a little office outside of my home, but on my land (have hubby do it of course - not me) but I don`t want to commute.  I live out in the country and just want to stay home! 

Eventually, I might consider hiring my niece to be my partner, but she would work from her home and I would work from mine.  But that would be the extent of my growth.

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Kim DelMonte
Accent Virtual Assistance * www.accentva.com
Creating Synergy - Delivery Balance!
Virtual Assistant * Virtual Legal Assistant

Good question Jessica,

we are a virtual mentoring community so for now my intention is to stay working online as that was the point, to offer mentoring services that were accesible via online means.

What I would like to do is to partner with more virtual business owners to offer a variety of business start up services to our program such as business development coaching, virtual assistance, Marketing consulting, conflict management coaches etc..

 

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Full Circle Global Mentoring, Inc http://www.fullcirclementoring.org/ Business owners sharing knowledge, experience and expertise virtually! Host a Success Luncheon - In celebration of successful entrepreneurs everywhere!