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Dear Mike:
I commend you and your co-workers for working in a job that
you love! Most people, these days, find passion outside of their job instead
of loving what they do so that their passion encompasses their whole lives!
Family businesses are very difficult to work with, unless you're one of
the family! For over 10 years, I worked for various family business and was
always involved in both the professional and personal aspects of the
relationships - just because their work was intertwined with their personal
lives. Sometimes it was great and sometimes it made me anxious and working
conditions were strained.
This is also the first place you need to look when deciding if you and
your co-workers can create a business together. I say this because it's real
easy to go to work, do your job and go home. But, there are dozens of daily
tasks that a business needs to survive and thrive. One of those is the
interpersonal relationships of those involved in the business. When the
success of the company is on the back of a single owner, the employees do
not have to bear some of the responsibilities of such. But, when six people
try to run a business together, the allocation of work has to be agreed upon
by all and each one has to do their job as well as assisting with the work
of the others in the group. You have to do more than just get along, you
have to have trust in the abilities and actions of everyone.
When you sit down with your co-workers next week, you need to make a list
of the areas of expertise that are needed to run a business and then
determine who will be in charge of those things. These are just some that
come to my mind:
- Finances / Accounting - who will handle the money
issues?
- Marketing / Advertising - who will handle getting new customers?
- Quality Management - who will make sure that the product is of high
quality?
- Customer Service - who will handle the customers
- Manager -
who will deal with the daily management of the shop?
- Purchasing /
Inventory - who will be the buyer for the raw materials and equipment you
need?
It's not that you change your ways and everyone only does one thing -
they have to do their normal work as well as hold a role in the management
of the company. They have to be responsible above and beyond what they do
now. And the entire group has to trust each other way more than just making
sure you have safety glasses on!
The main reason couples in a marriage have issues is usually because of
finances - and the same thing happens when two or more people are involved
in running a business. You and your co-workers need to have some serious
discussions about money, so you can put down on paper the 'what ifs' and the
solutions. For instance, what if the marketing manager isn't doing his job
and you don't have another job to do - money will be tight and how is that
going to be handled? What if the finance manager hasn't kept up with the
accounting - what steps will be taken to make sure that's finished? What if
a co-worker dies or wants to quit - who will decide if they want to buy him
out or find another to replace him? The main issues of a business need to be
decided upon and put into your contract - you all must start on the same
foot and walk together to be successful.
You may do very well if you could find a SCORE counselor in your area, to
help you get the business put together and off the ground on solid footing.
I know of a super guy in the Kansas City area who does this, but you can
find listings for them at
http://www.score.org . These are usually retired business owners who
offer to assist others with their business expertise.
And, don't forget your spouses in the decisions you make. Each person has
to have the same level of trust, not just for the other co-workers, but also
in their spouses. Easier said than done, I assure you!
I wish you the best and let me know if there's any other questions you
may have!
Tammy Harrison
April 10, 2005
About the PowerHomeBiz.com Guide:
Tammy Harrison is a successful
home-based working mom for over five years. She holds a degree from Mizzou in
Consumer Economics. Her business focuses on Marketing and Creativity for Small
Businesses and she is CEO The Queen of Pizzazz, A Division of J. D.
Harrison & Associates, LLC Independent Advertising Sales For more information, you may contact her at