Editor's note: Al Levi knows what it takes to make your business run with less stress and more success. Contractors, just like you, seek his advice regularly. Al has agreed to let us share with PM readers some of the questions he gets and the answers he gives. The focus is strictly on problem solving and handling the day-to-day operations of a successful contracting business.

To send Al your own questions, which if selected will run anonymously, send  us an e-mail with the subject title "Ask The Experts" to: rotellak@bnpmedia.com or fax at 248/502-2110.

To Grow Or Not To Grow

Dear Al,
My husband and I started a plumbing company two years ago. It is just the two of us; me in the home office and my husband doing calls. The dilemma we face are whether to grow or not to grow.
Home and Away

Dear Home and Away,
I understand the dilemma you're facing. It is one of the toughest decisions you, as an owner, have to make. Do I choose to grow or not to grow? And, whom do I listen to?

There are successful two-person companies out there, but they have to work very hard to make it all work. They typically made tough choices at the beginning about what they wanted from their business and what they were willing to give up to stay small.

I've counseled people in the same situation as you, and I told them to first write out their personal goals and then their business goals. Take a look at the business today and envision the company as you’d like it to be five years from now. Will you reach those goals by choosing not to grow? The most frequent answer is no. That's why most people who do this exercise choose to grow.

Here are just some of the other reasons they decided to grow:

1. They wanted to take vacations.

2. They wanted time off to be with their family.

3. They wanted to retire some day.

4. They checked their numbers and found that their critical overhead costs are relatively similar to what they'd be if they added some more productive help to cover those costs. Note: Remember, right now, only your husband can generate sales and do the work that covers those costs.

5. They understood that, should something happen to either of them, the business would be under great pressure to survive.

6. They felt they had to wear all the hats. That gets harder to do as time passes and things get more complicated.

7. They realized their business demands a 24/7/365 response and having others to share the burden was not a luxury but a necessity.

8. All the administrative and compliance issues to be in business were enormous. They remain pretty much the same whether they were big or small.

Here's the catch: If you decide to grow, you'll want to grow bigger the right way. That means learning how to work on your business as well as in your business. There are books and seminars, like mine, to help. You can hire business coaches to work with you at your shop.

As to whom to listen to, I recommend you read their work over a period of time and see if you agree with the body of what they're saying.  A recommendation is always helpful. Just be aware of the danger of listening to too many people because you’ll waste a lot of time, energy and money trying to make all the pieces work together.

Any trade group or association can also be helpful in the growing process. I recommend choosing a national organization because you’ll want to be free to share information with people who are not your competitors. Like most things, you'll get out of it what you put into it.
Al