The Entrepreneur’s Playbook: How to Scale Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Wallet)

One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is that you need a full team from day one. You don’t.

When I first started in real estate, I was a solo agent in New York City, trying to break into one of the most competitive markets in the world. No assistant. No team. No production budget. Just hustle.

But even back then—when I started on September 15, 2008—I understood that if I wanted to stand out, I couldn’t do everything myself. So I did what I could with what I had: I outsourced.

I found freelancers to help with photos, video edits, pitch decks—whatever I couldn’t do well on my own. It wasn’t perfect, but it moved me forward. And over time, I learned how to build a brand before I could afford to hire a team to support it.

Build With Freelancers. Scale With a Team.

Fast-forward a few years: when I launched SERHANT., I knew the only way to build a modern brokerage was to treat it like a media company. That meant storytelling. Design. Strategy. Content. Lots of content.

We started out of a small townhouse in SoHo with a full-time, in-house creative team. We didn’t outsource anymore—we built a team of editors, designers, marketers, and strategists from the ground up.

But here's what most people don’t realize: that in-house team only happened because of everything I learned working with freelancers first. I spent years discovering what worked, what didn’t, what kind of creative partners I needed, and how to communicate a vision. That process was foundational to how we built our internal creative engine.

And that’s the playbook I’d recommend to any entrepreneur today.

Can’t Hire Yet? That’s Okay.

If you’re just starting out—whether you’re a real estate agent, a founder, or building a personal brand—you don’t need a big budget or a creative department on day one.

You just need forward motion. And you need the right people to help you move faster.

That’s where Fiverr comes in. It’s a global marketplace of freelance professionals—designers, editors, developers, marketers—who are available when you need them, for what you need done.

You can check portfolios, read reviews, and find talent that fits your style, speed, and goals. It’s flexible, fast, and easy to scale.

The Win: Going In-House

For me, the success metric wasn’t how many freelancers I could work with. It was being able to build an in-house team once I had the systems, insights, and resources to do it right.

That should be the goal: build lean, move smart, and evolve into the version of your business that’s built to last.

Until then—build with freelancers who can help you get there.

Start here: fvrr.co/serhant Use code SERHANT for 10% off your first project. Whether it’s virtual staging, a listing video, or a new logo—just start.

You don’t need everything. You just need momentum.

Let’s go.