Did you know that if we added up the 500 largest family businesses in the world, their combined value would make them the third-largest economy on the planet, right after the United States and China?
That’s according to an EY report released in March this year.
Family businesses are the backbone of the global economy, yet they don’t always get the attention they deserve. In fact, it’s often hard to find public policies or technological infrastructure programs designed to help them reach their full potential.
A Family Experience That Shaped My View on Business
When I was a student at High School 7 of the University of Guadalajara, my father helped my siblings and me start a small food business in a local mall.
My mother created the recipes, and we took care of the operations.
We learned more than we ever imagined — management, customer service, teamwork, and resilience. My brother used to complain about the smell of food that lingered in the car we used to transport everything. It was exhausting work, but it also allowed us to pay for college and even travel to places we never dreamed of visiting.
Looking back, that experience was our family rite of passage — the moment we learned what it means to build something together. Today, all three of us make a living from our own family ventures.
Family Businesses in Mexico: The Heart of Jalisco’s Economy
In Jalisco, family businesses play a crucial role. According to the Family Business Radiography in Mexico by UDLAP, the state stands out nationally for its high concentration of medium-sized family enterprises.
When people talk about these companies, they usually focus on numbers — GDP, investment, and jobs. But there’s a human side that deserves equal attention.
Family businesses represent the values, ideas, and dreams of their founders, who often aim not just to make money, but to create better living conditions for their families and communities.
They shape the social fabric of Mexico, blending tradition, emotion, and entrepreneurship in ways that big corporations rarely can.
More Than Business: A Living Legacy
Starting a family business impacts even those who haven’t been born yet. It’s a forward-looking project built on continuity, purpose, and shared responsibility.
In many cases, family companies support several generations, providing not only income but also retirement and security for older family members.
And this is not just a local phenomenon. Around the world, family businesses generate more than 70% of private employment and over 50% of global GDP.
Their human-centered, long-term approach makes them both resilient and sustainable.
The Next Time You Buy, Remember This
Every time you choose a family business in Mexico, you’re strengthening not only that company but also the identity and resilience of your community.
These are brands with history, purpose, and human connection.
🎧 Listen to our conversation with Salvador Rosales, director of Cascahuin, a 120-year-old family tequila distilleryfrom El Arenal, Jalisco.
Find it on LAMARCALAB Podcast via Spotify or YouTube, and join the discussion on how family businesses power both economic growth and emotional connection in Mexico.
CONTACT US:
At LAMARCALAB, we help organizations turn their family legacy into strategic value.
👉 Contact us to discover how to transform your story into a brand that connects emotionally, grows sustainably, and inspires trust.
contacto@lamarcalab.com
