In a small town where seasoned business owners are considering retirement and selling their enterprises, Michelle Nohotima perceives opportunities where others might see only obstacles. Her unique approach to business acquisition and growth has allowed her to cultivate a diverse portfolio. This portfolio includes ventures in pet care, disability services, travel and now publishing—all while she keeps a sharp focus on identifying market needs and achieving scalability.
Finding Value in Established Businesses
Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly. It started with a property purchase which included a pet boarding kennel. Rather than viewing the kennel as an encumbrance, she quickly recognized its potential. “It was an already running business on that property,” she explains. This initial experience sparked a series of strategic business acquisitions.
Her approach to acquiring businesses revolves around three vital factors. “If I can’t scale it, I have a second thought about buying it,” Michelle states. Furthermore, she observes, “With older people that are selling, there’s not a lot of technology in their businesses. So, I look and see if I can add technology to streamline things and add revenue that way. Nine times out of ten, you can.” This focus on scalability and technological upgrades is a recurring theme in her strategy.
Building Through Strategic Partnerships
Identifying and filling operational gaps through strategic partnerships is one of Michelle’s key strengths. When staffing proved to be a challenge in her disability services business, she developed a very innovative solution. “One of my partnerships is with a hiring agency,” she explains. “When I need staff, I get priority. They send me the staff I need, and vice versa. They’ve used my staff as well. We form that partnership to help each other out when we’ve got gaps.” Such collaborative arrangements highlight her resourcefulness and collaborative mindset.
Michelle’s recent purchase of a news agency perfectly illustrates her modernization strategy. The previous owner, she notes, “did everything manual, nothing on computer.” This scenario which is quite common among businesses owned by older generations, presents a great opportunity. She aims to increase efficiency and profitability through the implementation of technological upgrades. These kinds of opportunities are what drives her.
Navigating Multiple Industries
Managing multiple businesses across different sectors demands flexibility and strong support. Michelle attributes her success to building a solid team. “It took a while for me to build up the right team because you’ve really got to have people that complement you because you want them to do the things you can’t do,” she explains. This recognition of hiring a diverse and capable team is highly important.
The COVID-19 pandemic further solidified the value of her diversification strategy. Her pet boarding business faced challenges during lockdowns, but her disability service experienced a boom which tripled the income. This experience affirmed her belief in diversification. “It sort of clicked in my head that I really need to diversify a bit more because it could be something different next time,” she explained.
Looking Forward: The Publishing Venture
Michelle, now managing six businesses, is expanding into publishing and advertising. “I’m buying a company soon that does a lot of publishing and advertising because now I’ve got six businesses. I need advertising and marketing. So, now my aim is to move into buying a business that’s already doing that.” This strategic move reflects her understanding of interconnected business needs. Her strategy remains consistent: identify needs within her existing business network and acquire companies that can fill those gaps.
She also seeks opportunities for modernization and growth. For Michelle, the initial purchase price is not the only factor. Instead, her focus is on “what the profit is going to cover and what it’s going to cost me? And can I increase that?”
Michelle joined the Empire Circle to connect with other entrepreneurs and gain perspective. She also works with a one-on-one coach. “Being in that community of like-minded people who are down the same path really helps with the mentoring and learning,” she notes. “People think I’m crazy for having so many businesses, but you won’t think I’m crazy when I’m doing what I want to do, having the life I want to live.” This statement underscores her drive and her unique vision.
To learn more about Michelle Nohotima and her business ventures, check out her LinkedIn profile.