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By Nardy Bickel | MiBiz
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MUSKEGON — Starting a business or a franchise in a poor economy makes little sense for most people. But when Chad Lawie, 26, of Muskegon, returned to Michigan in the midst of the economic downturn last year, instead of turning right around, he saw a great opportunity ahead. Lawie created a branch of the South Carolina company he’d worked for in the past, an operation that provides services to new small businesses and entrepreneurs.

LongerDays LLC is a virtual assistant services company, meaning clients can hire an accountant, web designer or personal assistant without having to hire a full-time employee themselves.

Unlike other virtual assistant companies, which usually outsource the work or work with freelancers, LongerDays hires full-time employees to work for several clients. LongerDays employees also work on-site and jobs are not outsourced, keeping both talent and resources in the country.

In Michigan, LongerDays has four full-time employees who work together at the company’s office located in downtown Muskegon’s Hovey House.

“We employ so many skill sets. You may need a website or someone to do customer service or bookkeeping. Most people can’t afford to hire when they’re starting out. We have all that and instead of paying (different people), they get all of it. It’s like having a super-employee,” Lawie said.

LongerDays was founded by Brian Gladu in Charleston, SC, and most of its clients come from all over the U.S.

Lawie started working for the company in 2007 when he and wife LeeAnn took a sabbatical and sailed to the Bahamas before heading to South Carolina.

Although his experience was limited, Lawie said, he was lucky the company’s founder took him under his wing and trained him, eventually making him a manager.

When the couple returned to Michigan last year, they found an economically depressed state in worse shape than before they left.

“We were pretty disconnected and when we came back we realized how much things (in Michigan) had changed,” he said.

Lawie said because entrepreneurship is key for economic recovery, the business model LongerDays has to offer is perfect for the state, and in December, the company opened an office in Muskegon.

Among its clients or past clients he counts are financial advisor Manisha Thakor, who often appears on CNN or ABC, and Jay Thornton, a former contender for the U.S. Olympic team and owner of American Gymnast, an online retail gymnastics business.

For Thornton, finding LongerDays was a lifesaver. Dealing with order processing, customer service, bookkeeping and advertising became overwhelming and barely left room for Thornton to grow his business.

“I have been working with LongerDays for over eight months and now do not know how I ever managed my business without them,” Thornton said via email. “Before LongerDays, I was barely able to keep my head above water while wearing every different hat imaginable.”

He gave LongerDays a try, delegating some responsibilities so he could focus on others.

“You would not believe how good it feels to have those extra two or three hours each day,” he said, adding that the additional help he gets from LongerDays meant more time to grow his business, which is up over 20 percent to date from last year.

Lawie hopes Michigan entrepreneurs will also follow suit and has been busy trying to get new clients from the area. He just recently landed his first Michigan paid client.

“I don’t charge my parents,” he joked. “I really enjoy working here and we would like to have strong local presence in the community.”

Monthly rates range from $300 for 10 hours to $1,540 for 80 hours. The company offers precision billing, charging only by-the-minute a task took to fulfill.

Lawie said that gives clients the flexibility they need.

“If you need extra help, you don’t need to find someone. It’s instant help. And when it’s slow you’re not going to waste employees’ time,” he said.

That’s something that Thornton appreciates.

“I am only billed when they are working on my projects, so I am only paying when the work is actually being done,” he said. “And, since LongerDays is all based here in the U.S., I feel great that I am not outsourcing jobs overseas, but rather am ‘employing’ workers right here in the U.S. That is important to me, especially considering that the name of my company is American Gymnast.”

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TAGS:

• chad lawie
• economic development
• longerdays
• muskegon