When you walk into the offices of Nu West Linen, you’re as likely to hear a baby cooing or the barking of the owners’ two small dogs as you are to pick up on discussions of this company’s business affairs with San Francisco-area restaurants and other clients that rely on Nu West for rental napery and garments. In fact, the business and social lives of this company’s staff and ownership are so intertwined that they describe themselves as a “business family,” rather than a family business.

‘Full-on in’ TO LAUNDRY

While larger companies tend to emphasize low prices for ...