Comments on: The Best Way to Raise Money? Don’t Pay Yourself http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/ Musings of a Balding 29 Year Old Business Owner Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:23:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: What a Spring! | Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-7355 What a Spring! | Adam McFarland Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:12:35 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-7355 [...] is not nearly as stressful as wondering where your next paycheck will come, something we all remember quite vividly. The stress is also lessened by all of the good things that have come out of the past few months [...] [...] is not nearly as stressful as wondering where your next paycheck will come, something we all remember quite vividly. The stress is also lessened by all of the good things that have come out of the past few months [...]

]]> By: Teamwork | Adam McFarland's Blog - Musings of a Balding 26 Year Old Entrepreneur http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-2216 Teamwork | Adam McFarland's Blog - Musings of a Balding 26 Year Old Entrepreneur Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:32:30 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-2216 [...] type of stress we had last year when we feared that one wrong move would crush us and eventually decided to not pay ourselves for a few months, but nonetheless it’s still a little more stress than anyone would [...] [...] type of stress we had last year when we feared that one wrong move would crush us and eventually decided to not pay ourselves for a few months, but nonetheless it’s still a little more stress than anyone would [...]

]]> By: Wohoo a Paycheck! - Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Wohoo a Paycheck! - Adam McFarland Thu, 08 May 2008 23:46:53 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-737 [...] in February we made the somewhat difficult decision to self-fund our move and expansion by not paying ourselves for three months.  In retrospect, this [...] [...] in February we made the somewhat difficult decision to self-fund our move and expansion by not paying ourselves for three months.  In retrospect, this [...]

]]> By: The Difference Between Being 20 and 25 - Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-691 The Difference Between Being 20 and 25 - Adam McFarland Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:38:20 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-691 [...] on the high side of what we were projecting.  The only way we don’t pay ourselves before our June 1 deadline is if we choose not to do so - cash flow is very good.  On a personal level, I’m moving into [...] [...] on the high side of what we were projecting.  The only way we don’t pay ourselves before our June 1 deadline is if we choose not to do so – cash flow is very good.  On a personal level, I’m moving into [...]

]]> By: Gordon http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Gordon Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:09:09 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-558 The reason I say it is that I run a website for a physical product - but I just sell ads to people who actually sell it and do all that stuff. My site results in significant sales for my advertisers, but for the moment i'm happy with it as a side gig that I can ignore for a week if I need to.... The reason I say it is that I run a website for a physical product – but I just sell ads to people who actually sell it and do all that stuff. My site results in significant sales for my advertisers, but for the moment i’m happy with it as a side gig that I can ignore for a week if I need to….

]]> By: Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Adam McFarland Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:34:49 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-555 Gordon, glad you're enjoying it. That's definitely the point - if no one gets anything out of the blog I might as well just keep a diary! It's funny you mention the inventory, warehouse, customer service, and returns. I felt the same way. My partners have done a good job of convincing me it was worthwhile, but on my own it would be a total pain to deal with. The reality is that there are very few "perfect" businesses. I've dabbled in a lot of things and e-commerce isn't that much more of a pain in the ass compared to everything else. For us, each aspect suits our cumulative personalities, so it works. It does, however, take a lot more cash to scale...and we're seeing that right now. Gordon, glad you’re enjoying it. That’s definitely the point – if no one gets anything out of the blog I might as well just keep a diary!

It’s funny you mention the inventory, warehouse, customer service, and returns. I felt the same way. My partners have done a good job of convincing me it was worthwhile, but on my own it would be a total pain to deal with.

The reality is that there are very few “perfect” businesses. I’ve dabbled in a lot of things and e-commerce isn’t that much more of a pain in the ass compared to everything else. For us, each aspect suits our cumulative personalities, so it works.

It does, however, take a lot more cash to scale…and we’re seeing that right now.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Gordon Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:28:15 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-554 This really is fascinating stuff to watch in real time, keep up the good work. And it also makes me realize why I never want to run a company with inventory and a warehouse and returns and customer service....ugh. Good luck! This really is fascinating stuff to watch in real time, keep up the good work.

And it also makes me realize why I never want to run a company with inventory and a warehouse and returns and customer service….ugh.

Good luck!

]]> By: Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Adam McFarland Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:49:56 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-548 Probably not Nev, probably not lol. Probably not Nev, probably not lol.

]]> By: Nev http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Nev Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:38:14 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-547 So I guess this means Adam & the crew aren't gonna be poppin bottles at the club till June huh?? :) So I guess this means Adam & the crew aren’t gonna be poppin bottles at the club till June huh?? :)

]]> By: Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-543 Adam McFarland Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:10:59 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/02/19/the-best-way-to-raise-money-dont-pay-yourself/#comment-543 Of course Anthony, the whole point of comments is to spark a discussion...it'd be no fun if you didn't make me think a bit :) I guess we'll come up with Plan B when we need to. Again, in this situation it was the best move for us. If we each had a wife, house, and 2.5 kids then it probably wouldn't be. We're not opposed to loans (personal or bank) or giving up equity at some point, but at this time I'm willing to take the risk of draining my life savings to make this work. Of course Anthony, the whole point of comments is to spark a discussion…it’d be no fun if you didn’t make me think a bit :)

I guess we’ll come up with Plan B when we need to. Again, in this situation it was the best move for us. If we each had a wife, house, and 2.5 kids then it probably wouldn’t be.

We’re not opposed to loans (personal or bank) or giving up equity at some point, but at this time I’m willing to take the risk of draining my life savings to make this work.

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