Three Core Values to Embrace When You Run a Small Business Like a Nonprofit

It’s counterintuitive if you’re trying to make the most money possible, but this formula yields far more satisfying results.

Running a nonprofit often means planting a seed but not getting to benefit from the shade of the fully grown tree. Photo by Gilly Stewart on Unsplash

My husband runs a small business, one his father started more than 40 years ago. For the first 16 years that the two worked together, my husband deferred to his father on many of the established business practices. His dad would say, “That’s the way I’ve always done this.”

Thus, my husband focused on the services they provided to patients and let his dad uphold the status quo.

When my father-in-law unexpectedly passed away six years ago, we were all devastated. We thought we had at least 20 more years with him until he was in his 90s, as we had with my husband’s grandparents.

As we started to pick up the pieces, my husband suddenly found he had the freedom to do things differently. Over the past few years, I have seen his job satisfaction grow exponentially. Surprisingly, profits have also increased. Why? I believe it’s because he has embraced principles that are more common in the nonprofit sector.

Focus on your mission and don’t lead with an eye on the bottom line.