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.

Kamyra Ndango

Having a family business has many benefits. It allows you to spend time with your family outside of normal life and routine . For me personally , it helps teach my kids the value of life . Being a business owner comes with freedom . Most of the time . Being able to work for my selfs allows me to be present more in my kids life and activities. Now that my youngest child is 5, I am Able to bring all 3 of my kids to work with me on our dessert tuck. I have a teenanger who loves to help work our window , give new ideas for our menu. The little ones love to hand out and attract customers. It shows them that if they work hard , they can make a living doing what they enjoy with the people they love. Read more>>

Matt Nelson

Family businesses have a unique dynamic that can be both incredibly rewarding and challenging. In my experience, our business is truly a family affair. My dad is the owner, and our team consists of close family friends who feel like extended family. This creates a strong sense of trust and unity, which makes working together feel more personal and fulfilling. What works well for us is the shared vision and commitment to success. Everyone involved has a personal stake in the business, not just financially but emotionally. This encourages open communication and accountability, as we all want to see each other succeed. Read more>>

Anajd Dokaj

La Baia Italian Food originated in Italy as “La Baia dei Sapori,” a family-run food truck. My mother Anila is a chef, and my father Petrit has many years of experience working in kitchens at various restaurants. We have always been a close-knit family, and this business has brought us even closer together. After leaving Italy and our family business, I missed that supportive environment and the joy of working with my loved ones. In 2019, I bought my food trailer, designed to provide all the comforts of a restaurant. The arrival of Covid in 2020 had a dramatic impact on California; a vibrant city became eerily quiet. To adapt, my father and I decided to create a small food cart, featuring crepes with Nutella and fresh fruit. We started building in our backyard, and within weeks, we were ready to operate in Los Angeles. Our Nutella crepes, which we had also made in Italy, quickly gained popularity, allowing us to share our family recipes with the Los Angeles community. Read more>>

Jc Jones

We are a veteran owned, family run farm in Hartselle, AL. It works well for us because we outline who does what and that person then becomes responsible for those tasks. Court (my husband) he is mainly in charge of building and servicing the equipment. Conrad (my son) his primary job is taking care of our chickens, making sure their health is intact, collecting eggs and feeding them. Jewell (my daughter), she takes care of feeding our rabbits, as well as maintaining our horses. Every season requires everyone to jump in and help. I (JC) will tap our sugar maples in January through the beginning of March and process the sap. Read more>>

Lauren Chaitoff

My husband and I run our company together, which has been an incredible journey. Our children are still young, so it’s hard to say whether they’ll want to join the business someday, but for now, we’re enjoying building something meaningful as a team. Working with your spouse is an amazing experience, but it also requires careful boundaries around work and life since the two can overlap so often. We’ve learned the importance of setting aside time that’s purely for family or ourselves, separate from business discussions, to maintain balance and harmony. Read more>>

Liam Lark

Owning a family business like Mr. Backflow has been an incredibly rewarding experience. There are several aspects that work well and obviously some challenges that come along with it. But let’s start off with what works well. First and foremost, Trust and Commitment, our family members are deeply invested in the success of the business, which fosters a strong sense of trust and commitment. This shared vision and dedication drives the business forward. Read more>>