The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of how outside directors in micro firms contribute to the development of these firms. Many studies have emphasized the importance of external directors on company boards, especially in small firms where internal resources might be scarce. However, this area has still received little attention by researchers. Interviews have been conducted with 50 small business owners in Sweden identifying 13 companies with external directors. These 13 companies have then been examined further. Guided by the internal need within the corporation the external directors in general fill 2 different roles. For most micro firms the strategic discussions are strengthened through the addition of outside directors and depending on the firm industry they might also find value in the access to the professional networks of their outside directors. In addition the owners’ strong emotional attachment to their firm and its operations can be balanced through the outside directors providing emotional clarity and support in difficult decisions. External funding can often work as a catalyst for including external directors on the board. Overall the traditional board roles, as described in previous research, take somewhat different forms in the context of micro firms.