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According to research attributed to the Family Business Institute, roughly 30% of family businesses survive to the second generation, 12% to the third, and only 3% to the fourth.
This “30-12-3” or “three-generation” rule is frequently cited to highlight the high failure rate of family business succession and suggests that family businesses struggle to stay in business beyond the founder’s grandchildren.
Amtelco isn’t just a business; it’s a survivor and an innovator. Fifty years ago, the world of teleservices looked very different. There were no cloud-based dashboards or intelligent virtual agents, just ingenuity, copper wires, and a commitment to helping people connect.
In a world of startups that come and go, there is a unique strength in a legacy business. Stability isn’t just a metric—it’s a promise. Adaptability is in Amtelco’s DNA. We didn’t just survive the shift from hardware to the digital call center software revolution; we led it. Amtelco employees don’t just build tools for call centers; they understand the evolution of the industry because they have lived it.
Amtelco’s founders, Mr. and Mrs. Curtin, began a telephone answering service (TAS) together in the 1950’s. Mr. C began working on inventions to address the limitations of communication technology while working overnights at his TAS. His ideas and inventions became the foundation of Amtelco.
Small Business, Big Impact
While some might see “small” as a limitation, it’s truly Amtelco’s superpower. Being a family-owned business with dedicated, professional employees enables us to do what “Big Tech” simply can’t: treat you like a partner, not a ticket number.
[Related Blog Post: Amtelco Wins Top Workplaces Award for the Seventh Consecutive Year]
Rob and Dawn with VanRein Compliance recently mentioned Amtelco during one of their podcasts. They discussed the importance of family-run organizations and their ability to provide superior customer service. Research consistently shows that small businesses have a distinct edge in today’s economy.
According to Forbes, small businesses provide unsurpassed personalization and excel through direct communication, faster response times, and creating a level of trust that large, impersonal corporations often struggle to replicate. Unlike large companies bogged down by red tape, small teams are agile and innovative. They can pivot quickly.
Statistically, “81% of family business owners prioritize long-term growth over short-term profits for greater stability.” In a family-owned environment, our customers are part of the extended family. Your success is quite literally our legacy.
To our employees, customers, and partners, who comprise our “business family”—thank you for being part of this incredible story. We’re just getting started.
