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> lifestyle businesses I really hate this term. It makes it seem like anything that's not a high growth unicorn startup is somehow a failure. It's like a way t

by shocks 11y ago

> lifestyle businesses I really hate this term. It makes it seem like anything that's not a high growth unicorn startup is somehow a failure. It's like a way to give it a label and somehow look down on it. (don't mean to aim this at you - just a general remark)

m_fayer 11y ago
Yeah, I also say it with some distaste. This is the path I'm personally pursuing though, and I'd love to have some better terminology to describe it. I wouldn't call it a "small business" either because, to me at least, that brings to mind a small consultancy and does nothing to communicate the "sell widely but stay small and focused" approach of the intentionally-small digital B2C business. (Mouthful there, huh?)
- shocks 11y ago
  I think it's a really good path to follow and would love to do the same one day. You might like this article if you haven't already seen it. It's been doing the rounds lately. https://medium.com/@dhh/reconsider-41adf356857f https://medium.com/@dhh/reconsider-41adf356857f As for a term... I can't think of one apart from "business". :P Heh. edit: Just noticed someone else already commented with a link to that article! Ha!
- colordrops 11y ago
  How about the term "scale-sustainable", meaning the business is cash flow positive for most of its growth?
  - stevesearer 11y ago
    I usually just refer to my business by what it was (an office design magazine/website) as opposed to defining it by a category of technical jargon because the majority of people I interact with don't want to know. Some people ask how it makes money (advertising) or if I have raised any money (no) or if I have employees (not yet), but I've never once needed to use the term "lifestyle business" or "small business".
michaelbuckbee 11y ago
I generally use the term "Bootstrapped" as a shorthand for product/SAAS business started with limited capital and focusing on growth through their own operating profits.
- CamatHN 11y ago
  At the same time though if a business is doing $3m profit a year between two people earning $1.5m a year each, calling it "Bootstrapped" is underplaying its success a little.
kzhahou 11y ago
Totally. It implies a semi-lazy work ethic (do just enough to support yourself+family, plus some left over for fun), and a lack of ambition. In truth, you gotta bust your ass at a small shop to get your work out there and make $$ from it.

by shocks 11y ago

m_fayer 11y ago

Yeah, I also say it with some distaste. This is the path I'm personally pursuing though, and I'd love to have some better terminology to describe it. I wouldn't call it a "small business" either because, to me at least, that brings to mind a small consultancy and does nothing to communicate the "sell widely but stay small and focused" approach of the intentionally-small digital B2C business. (Mouthful there, huh?)

shocks 11y ago
I think it's a really good path to follow and would love to do the same one day. You might like this article if you haven't already seen it. It's been doing the rounds lately. https://medium.com/@dhh/reconsider-41adf356857f https://medium.com/@dhh/reconsider-41adf356857f As for a term... I can't think of one apart from "business". :P Heh. edit: Just noticed someone else already commented with a link to that article! Ha!
colordrops 11y ago
How about the term "scale-sustainable", meaning the business is cash flow positive for most of its growth?
- stevesearer 11y ago
  I usually just refer to my business by what it was (an office design magazine/website) as opposed to defining it by a category of technical jargon because the majority of people I interact with don't want to know. Some people ask how it makes money (advertising) or if I have raised any money (no) or if I have employees (not yet), but I've never once needed to use the term "lifestyle business" or "small business".

michaelbuckbee 11y ago

I generally use the term "Bootstrapped" as a shorthand for product/SAAS business started with limited capital and focusing on growth through their own operating profits.

CamatHN 11y ago
At the same time though if a business is doing $3m profit a year between two people earning $1.5m a year each, calling it "Bootstrapped" is underplaying its success a little.

kzhahou 11y ago

Totally. It implies a semi-lazy work ethic (do just enough to support yourself+family, plus some left over for fun), and a lack of ambition. In truth, you gotta bust your ass at a small shop to get your work out there and make $$ from it.