Building a successful business can look very different from the picture many entrepreneurs imagine when they first begin. Growth can bring opportunity, but it can also bring longer hours, greater responsibility, difficult decisions, and pressure that eventually takes a toll.

In this episode of The Account Rant, Latitude Accountants’ Jacob Fahmy sat down with entrepreneur Rachel Carey to discuss the realities behind building multiple businesses while raising a family, managing a growing team and dealing with burnout. Rachel shared how she started her first NDIS organisation while returning from maternity leave, initially working from home with trestle tables in the lounge room while caring for two young children.

Her story provides valuable lessons for business owners about growth, delegation, systems, leadership and the importance of building a business that supports your life rather than consuming it.

Starting a Business Does Not Always Go to Plan

Rachel originally imagined creating a business that would give her greater control over her life. Instead, the early years involved working 16- to 20-hour days, very little sleep and four office moves within her first 12 months as the organisation grew rapidly.

This is a common challenge for entrepreneurs. The business may begin as a way to create freedom, flexibility, or financial independence, but the owner can quickly become responsible for everything.

The lesson is not that long hours are always avoidable. Rather, business owners need to recognise when hard work is helping the business grow and when they are simply becoming trapped inside it.

Growth Should Build on What You Already Know

Rachel’s original NDIS organisation eventually became one of six businesses within her group. The businesses operate around the disability and community services sector, including residential services, technology, business solutions, allied health and specialist housing.

Jacob Fahmy highlighted an important strategy behind this expansion: vertical growth.

Instead of constantly jumping into unrelated industries because a particular opportunity appears attractive, business owners can look at what their existing customers and industry actually need.

What Does Vertical Growth Mean?

Vertical growth involves expanding around an existing business, market or area of expertise.

For example, a business owner might:

• Identify additional problems their existing customers face.
• Develop services that complement their core offering.
• Build technology or systems that support the existing operation.
• Expand into related areas where the business already has knowledge and experience.
• Share resources between businesses where practical.

Rachel’s businesses demonstrate how related operations can create an ecosystem rather than a collection of completely unrelated ventures.

More Businesses Do Not Automatically Mean More Profit

A larger group of businesses can create significant opportunities, but growth also brings additional costs and complexity.

Rachel explained that her businesses share resources, including functions such as human resources and finance. This allows the group to look for efficiencies and operate more effectively.

This is an important reminder for business owners: revenue and business count are not the same as profitability.

Growing a company without understanding its margins, expenses, and cash flow can create the appearance of success without creating a sustainable financial result.

Business owners should regularly understand:

• Revenue and gross profit
• Net profit margins
• Operating expenses
• Cash flow
• Staffing costs
• Business performance by service or division
• The financial impact of future growth

Growth should ultimately strengthen the business, not simply make it bigger.

When Working Under Pressure Becomes Burnout

One of the most powerful parts of Rachel’s story was her reflection on pressure.

For years, she believed she thrived under pressure. After being diagnosed with ADHD and later experiencing burnout, she realised that she had not necessarily been thriving — she had been surviving.

The distinction matters.

Entrepreneurs are often praised for being able to work through chaos, solve problems quickly and keep moving when things become difficult. However, constantly operating under extreme pressure can eventually affect decision-making, relationships, productivity and personal wellbeing.

Rachel described reaching a point where decision fatigue became significant before experiencing a serious health scare and ultimately being diagnosed with burnout.

For business owners, this highlights the importance of recognising warning signs before a crisis occurs.

You Do Not Have to Be the Smartest Person in the Room

Another major turning point for Rachel was learning to let go of the belief that she needed to be the smartest person in the room.

She began bringing in people who were better than her in particular areas and discovered that rather than diminishing her role, strong team members allowed her to focus on the areas where she created the most value.

This is a crucial leadership lesson.

A business owner who insists on making every decision, managing every task and knowing every answer can eventually become the bottleneck.

Build Around People, Systems and Processes

Jacob and Rachel both emphasised the importance of moving away from an owner doing everything themselves.

As a business grows, the goal should be to build an organisation that can operate effectively without every task depending on the founder.

That can involve:

• Hiring people with complementary skills.
• Documenting important processes.
• Establishing clear responsibilities.
• Developing reliable systems.
• Delegating decision-making where appropriate.
• Building a leadership team.
• Creating accountability across the business.

Delegation is not simply about having less work. Done properly, it allows the owner to focus on strategy, innovation and the areas where they can have the greatest impact.

Mentors Can Help Business Owners Learn Faster

Rachel also spoke about her commitment to coaches, mentors and ongoing personal and professional development. She described approaching experienced people she admired and asking them to mentor her, allowing her to learn directly from people who had already developed the skills she wanted.

This approach can be valuable for business owners who are trying to shorten the learning curve.

Rather than assuming that formal education alone provides every answer, entrepreneurs can learn from:

• Experienced business owners
• Accountants and advisers
• Industry specialists
• Coaches and mentors
• Leadership teams
• Professional networks
• Practical experience

The objective is not simply to collect information. It is to learn, apply it and improve.

Build a Business That Supports the Life You Want

Perhaps the biggest lesson from Rachel’s story is that business success should not be measured purely by revenue, the number of businesses owned or how hard the founder can work.

Rachel originally wanted to create a “life by design”, but the early years of entrepreneurship led her into an even more demanding version of working life. Her experience ultimately helped her recognise the importance of people, systems, delegation and focusing on her strengths.

For business owners, sustainable growth means asking an important question:

Is the business creating the life you wanted, or has your life become completely organised around the business?

Understanding the numbers, planning for growth and getting the right professional advice can help business owners make better decisions before pressure becomes overwhelming.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Stress, Burnout, and Growth

How can business owners reduce stress?

Business owners can reduce pressure by delegating responsibilities, building reliable systems, hiring capable people, and maintaining a clear understanding of their financial position. The goal is to avoid becoming the bottleneck in every part of the business.

Why are systems important when growing a business?

Systems create consistency and reduce the amount of work that depends entirely on the business owner. They can also make it easier to delegate responsibilities and scale operations.

Should a business owner expand into multiple industries?

Not necessarily. The discussion between Jacob Fahmy and Rachel Carey highlights the potential benefits of expanding vertically around an existing market, expertise or customer base rather than pursuing completely unrelated opportunities.

How can an accountant help with business growth?

An accountant can help business owners understand financial performance, monitor profitability, develop a growth plan, manage tax obligations and make informed decisions based on the numbers.

What is the danger of working too many hours?

Long working hours can become unsustainable when they consistently affect decision-making, productivity and personal wellbeing. Business owners should consider whether their workload can be reduced through better systems, delegation and additional support.

Need Practical Advice for Your Business?

Running a business should not mean carrying every financial and operational decision alone.

Latitude Accountants works with Australian business owners to provide practical accounting, taxation and business advisory support designed to help them make informed decisions and build stronger businesses.

Get in touch with Latitude Accountants:

📍 Sydney Olympic Park | Marrickville | Melbourne | Loxton
📞 1300 706 597
📧 info@latitudeaccountants.com.au

Latitude Accountants has offices in Sydney Olympic Park, Marrickville, Melbourne and Loxton.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial, accounting, tax, legal or personal advice. Business circumstances vary, and you should obtain professional advice relevant to your individual situation before making financial or business decisions.