The problem with scaling up any business is that it involves compromise. That may mean compromise on quality, culture, ethics or service. If I owned a small long running, successful business that was my passion I would try to keep it as close to my control as possible. Then again I am no Alan Sugar and that whole corporate world leaves me cold. Also once a business reaches a certain size it can become vulnerable and require risky loans to break out of that zone between being a bespoke relatively risk free operation that provides for a low number of people to a more risky business requiring significant cash injection to scale up and employ more people, buy premises etc etc. To survive this transition manufacturing often is offshored and this is when quality and service can nose dive.