I’ve been running Yazaroo for several years, and it has been a success. We built a profitable business with a small team, focusing on brand design, web support, hosting, and website development. Most of our work was straightforward and steady, but every now and then, we landed large projects worth tens of thousands of pounds. These big projects were profitable but also required more resources and higher stress levels.
As we entered a new financial year, I decided to bring in a business consultant to help us plan and grow. With decades of experience, his strategy was to focus solely on large projects and ignore anything under £10,000. At first glance, that seemed logical: focusing on bigger deals would elevate our market position. So we rebranded, adjusted our marketing, and went all-in on these high-value projects.
Initially, it seemed to work. But soon, the bottom dropped out. We went months without significant inquiries, and we had to let go of staff because we couldn’t sustain the team. It became clear that this approach was a mistake. We had ignored the smaller, consistent projects that, in aggregate, could have kept the business stable and profitable.
In hindsight, the lesson is clear: don’t overlook smaller projects. They spread risk and ensure steady cash flow. Large contracts are infrequent and unpredictable, and in times of uncertainty, clients are more cautious. By relying solely on big projects, we left ourselves vulnerable.
The mistake was listening to advice that didn’t fit our industry. The small projects were essential to our stability, and by ignoring them, we ultimately jeopardised the entire business.
Now, we’ve pivoted back to our original model. We still take on larger projects when they come along, but we don’t turn away smaller work. This shift has brought stability and growth, and the business is more profitable than ever.
If your business strategy is working, dont try and fix it.
