How to Tell When It’s Time to Sell Your Business

All good things eventually come to an end; even running your own business. You may have had your company for many years, but how do you know when it’s time to say goodbye? Owning and running a business can be an extremely rewarding and satisfying experience, but it’s not always sustainable for everybody. Perhaps you have decided to start a family and no longer have as much time to dedicate to your business or maybe you have been considering moving away to a different location and leaving your business behind. Here are some signs that usually indicate it’s time to sell your business.

You’re Burned Out:

Not everybody enjoys being an entrepreneur for decades. Perhaps you’re tired of all the responsibility and want a new career where you’re not in charge of everything. Maybe you want to focus more on pursuing a creative hobby and turning it into a career path. Perhaps you have decided that you would prefer to start a different type of business. Either way, if you’ve started to feel burned out, bored and no longer interested and passionate about what you do, it might be time to think about selling.

Your Business Has Increased in Value:

If your industry is on the up and you have built a successful business over the years, chances are that your business has increased in value. If your business has become more and more valuable over time, you will probably find that there are other entrepreneurs that would be interested in purchasing or acquiring your business. You may be able to sell your small business to a larger company, for example. WA Business Valuations can help you determine how much your company is worth and help you throughout the process of getting business valuations and putting your company on the market.

There’s More Risk:

On the flip side, perhaps your business’ value isn’t as high as you expected it to be by now, or perhaps you’ve been lucky in the past, but that luck is beginning to quickly run out. Perhaps the industry is evolving in a way that you have been struggling to keep up with, consumer trends are changing, or there are other factors at play that are causing your business to get left behind. If you suspect that things are only going to get worse for your business, it might be time to consider selling and getting away while you can.

Your Circumstances Have Changed:

While your business may have once felt like the most important thing in your life, that probably won’t always be the case forever. Many business owners eventually realise that there are other priorities in their life that need to be more important than hitting their business goals. For example, if you have not been spending as much time with your family as you would have liked, or your family has expanded since starting your business and you feel like you’re missing out on watching your kids grow up, these are all valid reasons to consider selling.

You Want to Do Something New:

Our passions and interests do change over time and you may find that you’re just not as into your business as you once were. Maybe you’ve tried a new hobby or learned some new things in the time since you first started your business and are thinking about the possibility of starting something new. If you want to get out of your current industry and start a new business doing something else, selling your company can be an excellent way to raise the funds that you’ll need to get started with your next business venture doing something that you enjoy more.

You Want to Retire:

Finally, one of the most common reasons for wanting to sell a business isn’t really about the company but all about you; you want to retire. And if you’ve been running your business and pouring all your energy and effort into it for many years, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make finally having a rest and enjoying your time alone a priority. If you’re getting closer to retirement age, there are plenty of excellent reasons to consider selling your business. You could stand to earn a significant amount of money from the sale, which can be an excellent way to fund the retirement that you’ve always dreamed of.

As a business begins to grow, there are many reasons why the original founder and owner might realize it’s time to bail out. Whether you’re ready to retire and spend more quality time with your family, have decided to follow a different pathway in business or running the business has started to take a toll on your physical and mental health, these are all valid reasons to consider selling your business on.