If you get to a certain size, and it doesn't need to be huge, you can delegate those tasks, can't you?
Just hire an administrator that's competent - they most likely don't need an MBA to do the tasks you're describing.
Just hire an administrator that's competent - they most likely don't need an MBA to do the tasks you're describing.
The idea that this sort of thing is easy is precisely why most startups fail. Sure the ideas and tech and implementation are hard, but that happens to be what most of us are good at. But guess what? The administration of the business is also hard (harder?).
This is just the inverse thought process of a couple of business students with an app idea for which they plan on outsourcing the programming for $5 an hour. It's a simple app, no problem!
Most small businesses fail, too, but a small business such as a boutique consulting services company does not have the same risk profile as a startup.
I never said it's easy, but it's certainly not as hard as building a unicorn. The difficulty is commensurate to the risk and the scale, I hope you can appreciate that?
If you don't want to delegate, then the other only alternative is to put up with doing these jobs (marketing & sales, finance & accounting, etc.) since they are not going away regardless of your technical expertise.
So whilst your point is spot on I've learned (the hard way) that not everybody has the ability to delegate. It's a skill just like any other.
Your comment is not only facetious, but also quite unintelligent.
I was not replying to the idea that "everyone should work for themselves". You've just taken that idea and replied to yourself, not to anything I was saying.
Also, as astonishing as this may seem to a lot of HNers, most modern economies are built upon SMEs. There are good, normal people working in small businesses all over the world. You could run an operation with half a dozen people and focus on technical delivery and strategic sales (I don't think you can ever delegate high-level sales). This poses its own set of challenges but it really is a middle ground between having to do everything as a sole trader and living stressed out of your tits trying to build a unicorn.