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.

Ramzi and Sommer Arikat

Ramzi and I were both raised around entrepreneurial families. Both of our parents always owned their own small businesses as we grew up. Watching our families start, maintain, and eventually sell successful family businesses showed us that only true hard work and determination as well as so much self-motivation and support from the family were all key factors in their success. We wanted to instill those same morals and characteristics in our kids by showing them how our parents showed us the value of hard work. Read more>>

Camryn Wilson

I believe having a family business is about having a legacy to pass down to further generations of yours while also empowering, teaching, and inspiring your employees. Here at this is it we pride ourselves on great hospitality and excellent service and honestly, we could not provide that without creating an environment built on family and togetherness for our staff. To me this hits home because i come from a family who owns their own business as well. Read more>>

Valerie Duque

I am a huge believer and supporter of family owned business. I am truly obsessed with entrepreneurship being instilled among families. Ever since I began my own entrepreneurship, my family and friends have always played huge roles. My daughter has seen me work hard to accomplish my goals. My friends and family have even worked for free alongside me to help me in the very beginnings. I think that although challenging, it is a beautiful journey that I have grown to appreciate the efforts that others put into their own businesses. Read more>>

Galit Ventura-Rozen

As someone that has 3 brothers, a father and a son that I have worked with and continue to work with my thought is “When it works, it works”. I started working with my father when I was 18 , working in his office at the front desk. I learned so much watching and listening to meetings and the way he ran his business. This struck in me the desire to be an entrepreneur myself. Read more>>

Merrilee Kick

When you have a family business it can either be really good or really bad. For me, it’s really good. I love that I get to see my family every day. We have always been very close, and we have had a great relationship. I think there are tough things, where your family tells you things you don’t always want to hear, but from a business perspective it is important. We lean on each others’ strengths, and realize our weaknesses. We also try, when we are together socially, to not talk business. Read more>>

Steven Daniel

Growing up in a middle-class family I was always taught about hustle and entrepreneurship. I grew up watching my uncle work in the factory to make ends meet. But he also was an entrepreneur that would cut grass, sell cans/products and so much more. And then I grew up watching my mother; a successful accountant and CFO run several businesses. Read more>>

Sara Nam

As a veteran of the family business world, I respect all the work and sacrifice that families put forth in their businesses. Mom-and-pop, hole-in-the-wall stores — whatever you want to call them — seem to defy the odds and that is what I admire about them. I have been engaged in the family restaurant world from a young age, and in my experience, many families have little to no formal training. Whether that be accounting for expenses, creating products, or advertising the business, family-run operations must learn these skills through experience. I think when a family business does well, that business is just a testament to the hard work put in to get to that point. Read more>>