Back to Basics™: The “Everyone Does It” Excuse

One of the most common things I hear from business owners who know they’re operating outside the lines is:

Well, everyone does it.

It’s an easy mindset to fall into. After all, if competitors are cutting corners and regulators seem to look the other way, why should your business be the one to play by the rules?

Here’s the problem: “everyone does it” is not a defense.

Why the Excuse Fails

• Selective Enforcement: Regulators don’t have to catch everyone. They only have to catch you.

• No Safe Harbor: Just because others are skating on thin ice doesn’t make it legal—or protect you when the ice cracks.

• Bigger Stakes: Once an investigation begins, the cost of cleaning up multiplies: fines, legal fees, reputational damage, and loss of business opportunities.

Compliance as a Business Advantage

• Protection: Compliance shields your personal assets and lowers liability.

• Value: Clean records and a compliant structure increase valuation if you ever want to sell or raise capital.

• Credibility: Partners, investors, and lenders take you more seriously when your house is in order.

Back to Basics Takeaway

Cutting corners may feel like a shortcut, but it’s actually a trap door. The businesses that thrive long-term are the ones that treat compliance as part of strategy—not an afterthought.

So the next time you catch yourself thinking “everyone does it,” flip the script: What’s my business worth if I do it right?