The Difference Between Building a Business and Running One

Most business owners are operators. They show up, execute, and repeat. And there's nothing wrong with that — until the day they want to scale, step back, or sell. Because what an operator builds isn't a transferable business. It's a personal service delivery system that stops working the moment they stop showing up.In this solo episode of Books & Backbone, Donna Harris breaks down the real difference between operating a business and building one — and why the distinction shows up not in mindset or motivation, but in the books.She walks through what an operator's financial picture looks like versus a builder's, why the 90-day test is the fastest way to know which one you are, and where to start if you want to make the shift.The answer is simpler than most people expect. It starts with being able to see the business clearly — in the numbers, not just in your head.Donna Harris, MBA, MAccCEO, Bookkeeping Made Simple LLCmysimplebookkeeping.com | 801-692-0032