Trades
When Skilled Founders Continue Carrying the Business
Freedom disappears.
In trades businesses, growth often rests on the founder's competence and problem-solving ability.
As the company scales, that dependency deepens.
Leaders still solve technical problems.
Decisions bottleneck at ownership.
Crew leaders defer upward.
Accountability blurs in the field.
Revenue grows.
Owner freedom shrinks.
Recognition
What compensation looks like in trades.
Founder reviewing jobs personally
Field leaders escalating routine issues
Talent variability requiring constant oversight
Leaders stepping in to protect margins
It works.
Until it doesn't.
Why Typical Solutions Don't Resolve This
Hiring project managers doesn’t redistribute authority.
Adding layers doesn’t reduce dependency.
Incentives don’t mature leadership capacity.
Systems don’t replace developmental growth.
When leadership systems mature.
Authority
Field authority clarifies. People act without checking.
Escalation
Reduces. Routine issues resolve where they start.
Stability
Crews operate with consistency and accountability.
Freedom
Owners regain strategic freedom.
Growth becomes sustainable without constant intervention.
Confidential. Diagnostic. Mutual fit.