Is your startup built to last, or to sell?

I have a small business, too, and this made me think of the importance of building and sustaining relationships with clients by doing good work. Each project I do for a client is not just a one-time, finished-and-it's-done assignment; it's a building block in my relationship with that client. In order to keep clients coming back, I have to think from a "built to last" perspective. I suppose most small-business people do--particularly those of us who are very small service providers.

>1) When built-to-sell startups get customers, they aren't really interested in listening to them to improve the product – the company is supposed to be sold anyway.

I don't agree entirely with this one. For a company to be able to sell, first it needs to have customers around or else how will attract buyers?

No customers, no business...

Glad to hear you have that perspective. Especially with project work, keeping clients happy so they come back to you for the next project is key. Maybe you should've managed that apartment complex!