There are quite a few ways of looking at this.
Remember, we started before computers, internet, cell phones and most other everyday things we all take for granted now, so the thinking process was much different back in the 70’s and 80’s
When we first really started aggressively going after customers, most of them said we were too small to handle their needs. Others looked at me and saw savings in their future with me. To get over the hurdle of looking too small, I made arrangements to go to their place of business for meetings and usually lettered trucks and fleets on-site. However, for the shocard people, signs not requiring installation and other small work, those people wanted to pick their stuff up…. and again, they were very surprised to see the kinda operation we were running. Once we got our first place of business, we picked a small back street, because I really didn’t want walk-ins. I figured anyone that wanted signs would call me first and then we could direct them how to get to our place. Remember, there was no internet, Craig’s list, e-bay or any other communication other than telephone, word of mouth or pounding the pavements…. heck, not even cordless phones, yet. Anyway, we didn’t want people coming in and wasting our time to letter a milk box or just asking stupid questions. We couldn’t afford to waste the time. Also, once having a place out of the home, we immediately started getting a much better type of clientele. Instead of friends, family and occasional business acquaintances, we attracted banks, store chains, larger real estate companies and…… malls were just starting to spring up here and there.
Our first shop was only around 800 square feet. When I opened it, I was solo. Within a year and a half, we were 7 people strong. All hand painters and some silk screening and an electrical guy. At any given time we were at least three months backed up. We banged this stuff out and got so back-logged we had to move into a 4,000 square foot shop. That one was also on a back street…. out of the normal view of passerby’s. We kept a low profile in the neighborhood, but for business, we were kicking some serious butt.
With today’s communications and various types of advertising, I don’t think you need a big shop, unless you want one. You can still fool all of your customers via e-mail and with computers, software and the many types of output and wholesalers; I would seriously re-think my plans of earlier years if I were younger. That’s not to say I’m sorry I did what I did….. I did what was the norm at the time. We didn’t have near the tools at our disposal, but we had to make ends meet. Some made it…. and some didn’t.
Again, I think it all depends on the type of clientele you’re seeking… or getting. If you have a small store front, the only draw back I see is, you’re gonna be putting a lot of extra time into work, unless you have someone else manning the store. Otherwise, you’ll be doing very little production during the day and working like crazy at night and on weekends. You’ll have far less time for your family…. or any kind of personal life.
Good luck in whatever you do……………. 
