In this episode, I sit down with Wilmington business owner Bennie Sheally to talk about what it really takes to grow a company from scratch. We dive into his leap out of corporate life, the risk and reward behind acquiring agencies, and how he learned to lead with transparency and culture first.
Bennie opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship — from burning through savings to figuring out payroll — and the resilience required to keep going. Together, we explore how community support, personal relationships, and strong leadership shape a thriving business.
Timestamps
(00:00) — Intro
(07:38) — Wilmington support for business owners
(12:19) — Scaling multiple office locations
(16:19) — Revenue growth through acquisitions
(20:38) — Entrepreneurship stress and payroll uncertainty
(24:58) — Celebrating employee entrepreneurial growth
(30:40) — Adapting agency systems for growth
(36:55) — Leadership transparency with team
(41:05) — Efficiency through back-office processes
(47:20) — Culture-driven operational performance
(53:10) — Strategic mindset during plateaus
(59:45) — Long-term vision and legacy building
About the Show
Business From Scratch with Abbye McGee is for people who are building a business while rebuilding their life. Abbye, a single mom and three-time founder, shares clear and honest talk about the real work behind mindset, money, identity, and daily life when you start from zero.
The show gives you steady guidance, simple steps you can use right away, and real conversations with founders, creatives, and friends who built their own way.
Each week helps you focus, test ideas, and keep moving even when the process feels messy.
Connect with Abbye
Find the Show Here:
Connect with Bennie Sheally