From Traditional Bookshop to Scalable Legacy: How Documentation Transformed Halabi’s Business

A simple question at The Freedom Workshop became the catalyst for transformation at Halabi Bookshop . “It felt like a slap in the face,” recalls owner Lana A. Halabi, describing the moment she realized her business was completely dependent on her presence and knowledge.

This article was inspired by the interview done during The Entrepreneurship Marathon-Freedom Edition with Andre Abi Awad & Lana A. Halabi in 2021

This self-development bookstore had found itself caught in the classic “hub and spoke” trap — where Lana was the central hub through which all operations, decisions, and knowledge flowed. Without her, the business couldn’t function properly, creating a ceiling on growth and valuation.

The challenge was clear: how could Lana transition from being irreplaceable to creating a business that could operate smoothly without her constant involvement?

The solution began with systematic documentation. “I needed to document processes so that my team, not just me, understands the ‘how-to’ of everything,” Lana explains. This meant creating comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that captured the institutional knowledge previously locked in her head.