The Death Of Small Business
- Jason Garbush
- Nov 23, 2021
- 3 min read
The Art of Small Business is dying
Many will ask, how is small business dying, seems like everyone owns a small business now. Just because you own a so-called business, doesn't make you a small business owner. Most of those people calling themselves business owners are actually captive agents, network marketers, franchisees or independent contractors working for larger companies.
To be a traditional small business owner, it takes a different type of personality, like being a US Marine. As a small business owner you're in charge of all departments, and at the beginning, you're also the only employee filling those positions. Unless you're seeking out venture capital, you're on your own financially with no safety nets. Owning a small business requires a risk tolerance and dedication that no one else really has.
Captive Agents and Network Marketers
Although through the hiring process most large corporations convince you that you're a small business owner, that's simply not true. As a captive agent or network marketer, you're buying someone else's system, not your own. You did not put together the packaging, marketing, branding or systems and procedures.
These are the things that small business owners do that agents and network marketers can't do. What would happen if you advertised something that wasn't approved by the company? What would happen if you want to put your personal branding with the products you sell and the company doesn't like your actions, behaviour or political and social stances. When owning a true small business, you're the answer to every question.
Franchisees
Franchisees have a very similar problem like the captive agents and network marketers. The major differences between the two are freedom to hire and property ownership. Unlike network marketers, a franchisee has the ability to open multiple locations and increase revenue share through larger investments into the parent franchise. The average buy in for a franchise can range from $200,000 to millions depending on the brand.
Independent Contractors
Independent Contractors are a friend to the small business owner, however the major things that seperates the two is employees, vision and marketing. The average independent contractor knows that they can get more money and flexibility of schedule that being a dedicated employee doesn't offer.
The independent contractor is how a lot of small businesses survive. If it weren't for independent contractors, businesses that have random or regular work wouldn't have the opportunity to grow into larger companies. Unlike a freelancer who has general skills, independent contractors are sought after for their specilizations. In a lot of circumstances the business owner and indpendent contractor relationship is symbiotic in nature.
What makes a Small Business Owner
A small business owner isn't going to be spending all day on social media unless it's to have a little personal interaction with friend and family or because it's a primary platform for advertising, prospecting, and marketing. Being a small business owner means that you're consumed by your business because it's like a high needs child that only you can take care of.
A traditional business owner is going to be someone who decided to go into business and did nothing but business until it took off, even if that meant financial ruin in the beginning. This is a huge risk for anyone, however a business owner doesn't shy away from the challenge. The reward for stepping up to the plate and swinging until you make it is greater than the price that was paid to make it.
As a small business owner you're going to have to mature at an alarming rate in order to maintain success which includes constant self education. As a small business owner you're responsible for brand design, process creation, marketing, sales, HR, etc. until you can afford to hire someone.
As a small business owner you're willing to sleep in your car to make payroll and downsize or sacrifice whatever sacrifice needs to be made to keep your business alive. As a small business owner, your overhead and accounts payable take precidence over personal because without the business you could never afford the personal.
What makes a small business owner over all else is the ability to perservere. Over the course of time in business an owner will be ripped off, taken advantage of, and make multiple mistakes that could tank the business. However, through all that, if you can perservere, you will make it to a place that no one else could imagine.
By the time you've reached the pinacle of your success, you're goals and dreams will have changed to mature to your level of success. At the start you may have wanted to own an island and a private jet, by the time you've reached the top it turns into quality of relationships and flexibility for the needs of those you most care about.
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