Scaling From One-Person Shop to Small Team
This chapter explores Scaling From One-Person Shop to Small Team with a focus on practical, small-business-friendly steps you can apply immediately.
Treat each idea as something you can prototype within a week: a new filter, a test RFQ, a supplier conversation, or a simple automation script.
Document everything you try. The notes you take now become SOPs, training material for helpers, and ultimately part of the asset value of your company.
Mermaid Block — Business Workflow
graph TD
Scan[Scan DIBBS RFQs] --> Filter[Apply Niche Filters]
Filter --> Analyze[Analyze History & Competition]
Analyze --> Decide[Bid / No Bid]
Decide --> Exec[Execute Award]
Exec --> Learn[Capture Lessons & Metrics]
Mermaid Block — Interaction Sequence
sequenceDiagram
participant You as You / LLC
participant DLA as DLA / DIBBS
participant Supp as Supplier / Shop
You->>DLA: Submit Quote (Ch 14)
DLA-->>You: Award / No Award
You->>Supp: Place PO
Supp-->>You: Deliver Parts
You->>DLA: Ship + Invoice
Action List
- Write down one concrete experiment you will run related to this chapter.
- Identify which RFQs, suppliers, or tools you need to test the idea.
- Define a small success metric: a quote submitted, a new supplier found, a script written.
- Schedule a review to capture lessons learned and update your playbook.