For some, family businesses mean spending more quality time with their families, financial freedom and so much more while for others it feels like a prison sentence. There are so many pros and cons, positives and negatives and so we wanted to create a space for folks who have experiences with family businesses to discuss the pros and cons.

Caroline Mercado

I co-own and co-founded our company- Chef Mercado’s Kitchen with my Dad. I was 17 when we launched our company and over the last 6 years having my family as a support system and my dad as a co-owner has been crucial in thriving as an entrepreneur. My dad is an entrepreneur with a background in accounting and finance who has built several businesses over his life because of everything I have learned from him, I definitely feel that asking for the guidance of a family member who has more experience than yourself can be extremely beneficial, not only do you have the opportunity to grow and learn from their prior experiences but they are someone who can help you overcome possible hurdles, create new ideas and help you achieve your goals. The foundation to our success has been, having a clear vision, shared responsibilities and an open line of communication. Some of the main lessons I learned have been, flexibility and having an open mind, for example, taking others opinions and ideas into account and implementing them in different ways. Gleaning from the experience of my past mistakes has helped me become better at what I do. I love and feel very lucky to be able to create alongside my family and hope to continue to do so for many years to come. Read more>>

Ashley Khan

Growing up, I watched my dad build and grow his own business. I learned at a young age that owning a business was more than the allure of ‘working for myself’ or ‘making my own hours’; my dad showed me that owning a business meant making sacrifices, constantly challenging yourself, and evolving in your industry. As I began my career as a licensed clinical social worker I carried many of these values with me. I continue to dedicate my time to marginalized populations as a social worker and have been able to hone my creativity in Pumpkins n Porches LV. I hope to pass on my dedication of advocating for the underserved while pursuing your passion projects to my children. Social worker to porch decorator is not the typical path, but a few life changes, influence from female entrepreneurs and a love for fall paved the way. I was a working mom of three boys navigating all of the competing demands when my youngest faced medical issues that quickly transformed me from a stretched thin working mom to full time stay at home/care coordinating mom. Both roles came with their challenges and I am forever grateful for the privilege to pivot my career and care for my children. I quickly found that my need to keep busy had me looking for whats next. I began to fill my spare time with baking, decorating and trying to make our house and community feel like home as an east coast transplant in Las Vegas. As our family needs continued to change, I wondered how to keep growing my creative interests. Read more>>

Kayley Elk

The day I sat down to consider starting my own business almost 8 years ago is the day that it dawned on me I had only ever worked for small businesses. Though never my intention to do so, it is so clear to me now that the basic foundations of my business are built from pieces I picked up along the way. My first job was working for my grandfather, a financial advisor in the Dallas area. He was and is the epitome of cultivating the small things that make big impact. Sending out personal mail on holidays & birthdays, spoiling clients with an unsolicited gift card, jotting down details of phone conversations to prevent important details from falling through the cracks. I suppose some may call these practices antiquated now but it was this job along with subsequent ones that I realized the power of personal touch. I want nothing more than our clients to feel respected and cared for, their investment means something to us. We are far from perfect but I believe this is a contributing factor to our business being sustained with little to no marketing outside of social media. Referrals have kept this train moving and that is something for which I am truly grateful. Read more>>

Dustin Boninsegna

I’ve worked in my families business for the past 8 years and at first I was apprehensive about my position and constantly trying to hide the fact that I was related to the owners of the business. I felt I had to fight the notion of nepotism since day one and prove my worth as an individual in the business rather then just a relation to the business. This played as a defining factor in the person I wanted to be seen as, not just a person who lucked out but a person who worked hard and deserved my role & job title. Now I am not only proud and outgoing to be a part of my families business, I am truly honored to have been given the opportunity to grow and develop myself independently through my families business to the point of developing my own concept and Ice Cream brand through it. Read more>>

Marisa And Elio Valenzuela

Asada Tacos started as an idea that my husband and I would often talk about. We would cook at family events, backyard parties and everyone would always compliment on how amazing our food is and how we should start our own taco business. After much thought and some hard times, we decided to finally move forward and turn that idea into a reality. We created a brand for ourselves and rolled it out March of 2024. The Sleepy Whale in Downtown Chandler was the first tap room that gave us an opportunity to serve our delicious food… and let me tell you… the support was overwhelming, and we were definitely not prepared. We started out with only my husband and I cooking and prepping all the food, our children taking orders, and at times in 100+ degree weather. This business has brought us together in so many different ways and we have grown so much as a business, couple, and family. Read more>>

Jalynn Haynie

I think family business is the best business. Not only are you working closely with the people you love and who love you, but you’re creating that generation wealth together. It’s not perfect, you still may bump heads along the way which is probably going to happen anyway but it’s the better way of doing business in my opinion because you’re looking out for the greater good and security of the family. My business was actually started for my children! So I’m all about including your kiddos in the business. And we’re on are second year now but since we’re still pretty new we get so much help from our family members. There’s a lot of turning wheels in the lemonade business believe it or not lol My parents jump in and help all the time, my siblings help when they’re free, even my cousins and aunts help out. It keeps things fun and interesting and you’re not loosing any quality time from them. My parents are entrepreneurs, my mom is a beautician and has been for over 25 years. Read more>>

Marci Duniec

Our family business began with my sister and me working alongside our dad, learning the ropes and seeing firsthand what it takes to make a business thrive. As our dad semi-retired, then finally fully retired, it became just the two of us carrying the torch, which meant we had to learn how to work together on a deeper level. That transition required both of us to do a lot of personal work. Through individual therapy, we each developed tools to bring into our partnership: open communication, clear boundaries, and the ability to listen without judgment. It’s been invaluable in allowing us to separate work issues from family dynamics, creating a stronger, more transparent relationship that respects both our individualities and our shared vision. My sister and I run our business with a shared sense of purpose, and there’s a comfort in knowing that we’re in it together. We’re both driven by the values our parents instilled in us—values of integrity, kindness, and the importance of helping others. This foundation brings us closer, allowing us to communicate openly and make decisions that align with what truly matters to us. Read more>>