I can completely relate to this Julie! Earlier this year my business was humming along nicely and going just the way I wanted it to. Then my husband lost his job. It was quickly apparent that my business would have to take a large leap for us to make ends meet whether I was ready or not. He's working again now but at half the salary. So we made some changes, found a contractor to help and invested a little money. So far so good.

During the course of all this, I did make two important decisions just like you are facing. 1. I decided I did not want to wholesale. at all. I just can't produce enough to make it worthwhile even with hiring an independent contractor for piece work. And 2. I want my business to be an "intimate" business. That doesn't necessarily mean small forever, I just want it to grow in time at its own pace. I know myself well enough that if I push too hard and grow too much more than I'm ready for, I'll get burnt out and stop doing it all together. I want to know my customers, have time to develop new products and enjoy my teenagers while I still can.

I don't know yet how it's all going to work out! Your thinking about all this is very good for the growth process. No one else can tell you what's right for you and your family. I'm sure the answers will come to you! (Love the diagram, wish I would have thought of that!)