Janique Bacharach is the owner of Bacharach Construction. Read our interview with Janique about her experiences with Xcelerate Business Advising and Peer Mentor Groups. 

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What inspired you to start your own business? 

The need to increase profits and have a better work-life balance for my family.

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What were some of your key goals that you worked with Xcelerate on this year? 

I worked with my coach on process mapping and gap analysis. 

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How has your identity as a woman and any and all other intersectional identities impacted your business?

It's hard to say. Honestly, it's provided more opportunity for me this year in terms of education and support through programming like what is provided by Xcelerate Women, Livelihood NW, and larger big sister companies that want to partner with us. There are times when I struggle with being the only woman or person of color in the room, but that's an inside job I've mostly dismantled.

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What were some of the challenges you faced this year and how did working with Xcelerate help you to overcome these challenges?

Process mapping helped us improve our field operation losses related to senior employees making supply runs. Gap analysis helped me become more flexible in how I think about my business and it was empowering to know I had more options than I imagined.

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Are there any wins or achievements you have celebrated this year while working with Xcelerate? For example - hiring new employees, paying yourself, quitting a day job, achieving profitability, opening a new location, increase in sales, launching a new product. Please be as specific as possible.

The biggest win I gained through Xcelerate was support when I thought I'd have to close my doors due to a cash flow issue at the end of summer. Day Reed let me know I could still participate in Peer Mentorship and that another participant was experiencing a similar crossroads. It gave me the resolve to get through that challenge because I wasn't alone and I wasn't judged. Now we have banks competing to fund us!

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How do you personally define success for you and your business?

The freedom to take my kids to school and pick them up no matter what.

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your Xcelerate experience?

This is such an empowered group of women and knowing it exists is a daily balm to my heart as a human and stamina as a businesswoman.

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