I think it was Scott Peck who started a book with the great line “Life is difficult”. Talking to someone today, it was clear that they faced a really tough choice. They have steadily grown their business and have reached a size where they now need some proper financial expertise, but feel too small to justify the additional cost. If their plans take longer to come to fruition than planned they will be out of pocket, if they take someone on board they will be out of pocket until they realise their earning potential; either way they are currently peddling like mad to keep on top of the paperwork.
This kind of decision is very common, and it’s no consolation for me to suggest that there is no right answer. Growing a business does not follow a straight line, it’s like climbing stairs; you either take the step up, or stay where you are. And when you are carrying a heavy load, the effort to step up feels huge, with no guarantee it will be worthwhile.
Life is difficult, but if you are contemplating such a step, there is only one way to find out if it’s right for you…