Hi everyone,

31 years old, no kids.

I own a small business, and have received offers in the region of £750k. Plus cash in the business would give me a total equity value of around £900k on exit.

I started it 5 years ago now, with the dream that one day it could be sold. Well that day has come and I’m in a very fortunate position of having 3 companies submitting offers.

But, instead of feeling excitement, I feel a sense of dread that I’m doing the wrong thing. This business has been everything for me for 5 years. At points I have genuinely thought it would end up killing me and through the toughest days and weeks the thought of the end goal was often what kept me going. So not to be feeling a huge rush of excitement and relief right now is a surprise to me.

I have 2 options.

  • Exit the business and take the money. in this situation I would invest the profits in property and lead a considerably lower stress, yet comfortable lifestyle.

  • The second option is reinvest our profits and try and take it to the next level. This would invoicing recruiting, advertisement and investment in our general operations. I’d be committing to another 2 - 5 years and going back in balls deep. Obviously the risk here is we dramatically lower our profitability by doing so and fail to scale any further. I worry we may then miss what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to sell a business for decent money.

Not really sure what I’m expecting to get by posting this, but if anyone has thoughts or has sold a business themselves, did you experience this? Did you regret it post sale? All advice appreciated.

  • NoGoodNamesLeft55@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Take the money. I sold my business earlier than I initially envisioned and for a bit less value than what I had hoped to build to, but I took the opportunity when it was offered and I am glad I did. Within a year or so, the overall market space in which the business’s products existed took a massive dive and still hasn’t totally recovered. Had I not sold when I did, the business would have almost certainly gone under. Like the old saying “a bird in hand is better than 2 in the bush”.

    Take the money, relax for a bit, and move on to the next chapter.

    • brianl047@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Yeah better to take the money

      The macro is important too; recession coming and badly funded businesses won’t survive. Maybe in other hands with unlimited money, it would thrive and grow but in the hands of someone cash strapped, it won’t or would even die

      If you sell, it could live on forever

      • ReadingReaddit@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        I’m currently selling all of my companies. Taking the biggest payout I can and hunkering down because winter is definitely coming. Already got offers and ready to move forward.

        A note I would encourage, though, is take the money and sit on it for a year or two well watching the real estate market adjust. Hard to purchase cash flowing properties right now. Most investors are sitting out for a few years.

        You could also invest in dividend stock, CDs or HYSA in the meantime

        • Nightshire@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          I’m not super in the know. Can you expound on ‘winter is coming’ and what makes you believe this? Genuinely curious as to what your thoughts are