Founder role and time for founder led lower-middle market companies

This page is for founder led lower-middle market companies with 5 to 50 million in annual revenue. The goal is a clear weekly rhythm that protects growth and your energy.

Questions and short answers

What should be on my calendar each week at this stage

Block time for customers, team, and thinking. Two to four customer touches, one leadership meeting, one one on one with each direct report, and one block for deep work. Add a weekly review of the scorecard and the top three priorities. Protect one half day for strategy or partnerships.
Set your weekly founder calendar

What must I stop doing that my team can own

List tasks by value and by who should own them. Move scheduling, invoice follow ups, routine approvals, and most internal status meetings to the team. Keep only sales moments that need your weight, key hires, investor and lender relationships, and decisions that change direction.
Stop doing and start delegating

How do I avoid founder dependency while staying close to customers

Write decision rights and set clear owners for revenue, delivery, and cash. Join a few key customer calls each month and read a short customer summary each week. Ask for bad news fast. Teach the thinking behind decisions so managers can act without you.
Avoid founder dependency and stay close to customers

How do I manage stress and decision fatigue during scale

Reduce choices and add routines. Use a fixed meeting cadence, a short scorecard, and a weekly plan. Batch similar decisions. Keep a short personal health routine and a hard stop a few nights a week. Share load with a partner or chief of staff during peak periods.
Manage stress and decision fatigue

Founder role and time for founder led lower-middle market companies

Questions and short answers

Related links