The Hard Truths of Small Town Entrepreneurship – With Michael Petrovici

In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “chaotic builder” Mihai (Michael) Petrovici. Whose journey from a Walmart manager to a multi-business owner in Bathurst, NB is equal parts inspiring and cautionary. With 7 businesses, 50+ employees, and a distillery now under his belt, Michael opens up about what it really takes to build something from scratch in a small town.

From tight payroll weeks to the pride of seeing a packed café you helped create, Michael doesn’t sugarcoat the highs or the lows. Whether you’re considering launching a product, scaling operations, or just surviving the chaos of entrepreneurship, this episode will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped for the journey!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpetrovici/

https://www.nbdistillery.ca/

https://www.aubootlegger.com/

Segment Breakdown:
00:00 | From Romania to New Brunswick
• Michael shares how his early life and family journey brought him to small-town Canada.

02:00 | Landing in Bathurst (By Accident)
• A temporary relocation becomes permanent—and unexpectedly sparks entrepreneurship.

05:00 |Au Bootlegger: The First Business
• Opening a craft beer bar without restaurant experience, and learning everything on the fly.

08:30 | Applying Walmart Systems to Small Biz
• How Michael brought structure, operations, and process to his bar using corporate tools.

11:00 | Starting Caffeine Café
• Launching a low-risk coffee concept that filled a local gap—and quickly gained traction.

14:30 | Buying a Bookkeeping Business
• His entry into service-based business and how automation changed the model.

17:00 | Growth vs. Sustainability
• Why Michael resists the pressure to scale for the sake of it—and what he focuses on instead.

20:00 | When Payroll Gets Tight
• A close call with cash flow and the lessons learned about forecasting and responsibility.

23:30 | Building the Distillery
• The personal passion and strategic thinking behind launching NB Distillery.

26:30 | Forecasting Gone Wrong
• The reality check that came from overestimating product demand—and underestimating risk.

29:30 | Juggling 7 Businesses
• How Michael manages chaos, team dynamics, and leadership across multiple ventures.

32:00 | A Brutal Winter in Business
• One of the toughest seasons yet—and what it revealed about resilience.

35:00 | Marketing vs. Product Quality
• The challenge of competing in a crowded liquor market where flash often beats substance.

38:00 | Why He Still Believes in Local
• Despite the setbacks, Michael shares why community-driven business still matters.

41:00 | The 5-Story Project
• A new residential build, how it came together, and why it’s more than just real estate.

45:00 | Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• Why he recommends building cautiously—and keeping your day job early on.

50:00 | Would He Do It Again?
• Final reflections on pride, risk, and what drives him to keep building.