What Do You Want This Business to Become?

I buy fresh granola bars from a friend who makes them and sells them through a small shop. They have a great brand and logo, and I think the bars are really good: fresh, clean, and convenient to take on the go. I buy them all the time. I also like supporting him and his little entrepreneurial venture.

Yesterday we got talking about the business. He loves making the bars, but he’s finding it hard to make money. It’s been more difficult than he expected.

I started thinking about what I might suggest. Could he raise his prices? Add more varieties? Sell in a few more shops or at farmers markets? Those might help him make more from the business he has now.

But what if he wants it to replace a job or provide a full-time income? That may require more than doing the same things a little more. He may need a business model that can produce and sell at a much larger scale—and he may even need to change the product or service.

That’s when I realized the first question isn’t how to grow the bars. It’s what he wants the business to become.

A side hustle that brings in extra money can be a good business. So can a creative outlet that earns a little more over time. A business meant to replace a job has different demands. It may take more money, time, skills, and commitment, and it may require a different way of producing and reaching customers.

There’s nothing wrong with either ambition. But they are different models. If you want a side business, you can make choices that help it stay manageable and more profitable. If you want to replace your income, you may need to build—or pivot to—a model designed to grow.

I’m realizing how important it is to know what you want before you build. Are you looking for a side hustle, some extra income, or a business that can replace your job?

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I help business owners bring in new business—working alongside them to find, develop and pursue promising opportunities. If this sparks an idea for your business, I’d enjoy hearing from you.