What 16 Years Running a Creative Business Really Teaches You

Nathan Barry interviews Frannie Wilson, owner of Ampersand, a branding agency, about her entrepreneurial journey, focusing on key skills learned over 16 years. Frannie discusses her company's evolution, including buying out her business partner, shifting from one-off projects to recurring services, and the challenges of scaling. She emphasizes the importance of not doing fulfillment work as the owner, knowing financials, and building the right team through clear expectations and defined core values. Frannie shares insights on landing and keeping clients, highlighting the need for a good client-agency fit and prioritizing client satisfaction. She also details her hiring process, including test projects and the use of Culture Index assessments to ensure team alignment and prevent burnout.