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.

  • kazabodoo@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    You say that now because of your circumstances, but let’s say you got the money and a few months have passed after you sold. I am almost 100% sure that something else will come to mind. Maybe in a few months or maybe in a year, the point is that the mind continues to work in the background and that’s the beauty of it.

    I have personally not sold a business but I was close to a person who did. It was his and his family’s work for more that 10 years. He was saying the exact same thing while considering multiple offers. He exited, got a lot of money, took time to rest and reflect and two years later he came up with a brilliant idea that now is in series B investment.

    Take the money, time is the most expensive thing in this world and you have the opportunity to buy yourself more than enough time to think of something else