Start Small, Stay Small
Here we are, almost fifteen years after establishing a business that we had no idea had so much potential. My college friends and I wanted to start a summer camp of our own to keep us busy while not teaching in the summer months. One opportunity led to another and I, personally, was suddenly at a crossroads. Leave teaching or pursue my own business endeavors? Be a cog in a system designed by others, or build my own machine? The latter choice won out.
I knew after leaving teaching that the childcare business had to be more than a single summer camp and an after school program. Little did I know, it probably didn’t need to be. But any rate, because of my hyperactive style of engagement and need to keep pushing boundaries as CEO, one location became two, then three, then four….a decade and a half later we host four daycares, over a dozen after school locations partnered with churches, schools…eleven annual summer camp locations. We have even expanded beyond the local county borders. Great, right? Be careful what you wish for.
Here is the problem. I am guessing it is a problem all businesses that continually expand have to rise above. Controlling the quality of the product while growing. Is it even possible? I haven’t figured it out yet.
We offer a service, so being able to grow while also being able to maintain the quality of the product has been a huge problem because there are so many factors. Most of them have to do with charging others to implement your product because let’s face it, nobody cares as much as the owners about the product. Especially in the childcare industry, where many of the jobs are only stepping stones, or a convenient way for people to fill gaps in their employment record.
So what do you do? Grow? Not grow? If you can ensure quality with a few sites, should you simply keep it minimalistic or try to figure out the puzzle of growing while being able to guarantee product quality?
Franchise businesses may not have to worry so much, as they sell their brand to others and collect a percentage of the profit for each franchise, regardless if their brand is represented well or not with the individual franchise. So, I guess in this case as long as the money flows…who cares.
But, that is not the way a private business with a real mission operates. It’s not just about the money, but about the reputation. What are we selling and is the product of the same quality everywhere we offer those services? If not, how do we reconcile this?
The awful truth is, maybe if you are an individual with a dream, you start small, stay small. Control the product by offering it personally and call it a day!