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.

Oz Morales

I secured an outstanding internship during my college years, working with a venture capital firm. Throughout this experience, I had the opportunity to closely observe angel investors conducting due diligence in seed round funding for early-stage tech startups. In some cases, these startups were merely conceptual with no established cash flow. Interestingly, what caught the investors’ attention more than the lack of cash flow was the composition of the core team, particularly if it consisted of family members. Read more>>

Ricardo Kelly

As the founder of Kelly Family Distributors, I hold family businesses in high regard. They embody a unique blend of values, commitment, and a long-term perspective that extends beyond mere financial gains. Being a family-oriented company isn’t just a label; it’s a core aspect of our identity.
I see tremendous value in involving family members within the company. Their passion, dedication, and vested interest in the company’s legacy and future often contribute significantly to our success. In our case, fostering a family-oriented environment means creating avenues for family members to learn, grow, and eventually take on leadership roles. Read more>>

Brittany Welsch

Being a family business owner I feel as though family businesses are important. Working together as a family unit not only supports our family financially, but allows us to bond and grow as a family. Having a family business allows us more time with our children as they grow and as a mother I am able to schedule my work around my children’s activities so I never miss a beat. Being a family owned and operated business, we are the face of our own business which allows us to make connections with our local community. The pitfalls that we encounter at times are always being in “work mode”. Read more>>