[NWH]

You very rarely if ever hear or know any one selling or has sold a high turnover multi van domestic business.

I would imagine it would be quite hard to sell and quite hard to finance your target buyer would probably be hard to find.

You hear  more of people selling commercial businesses.

Anyone that has done this well done and fair play to you but as said it would be very hard to sell for 100s of 1000s it would be considered quiet a gamble,on the other hand selling a business that has 100s and 100s of local council contracts is a completely different matter that could be turning  over well in excess of 50 million a year that’s the kind of business someone would pay millions for not a window cleaning round 😂.

[james peters]

In reality I would never sell. I work less than part time and earn in the top 0.5% of the UK. Cant imagine why I would ever give that up.

When you put it like that i dont know.

Maybe sell for a few million and retire abroad somewhere whilst never having to think about work again.

But then theres the conudrum of being bored, you cant win really.

my brother sold his business a few years ago.... I wont say the amount but it was just over 15 million.
he then moved to ireland . hes only 60 years old
he has now started another business .  in reality he never has to work again,  however he likes to keep active , and enjoys working.

he does spend a lot of time enjoying his hobbies though.

I won't say the amount but it was just over 15 million. Could you give us a clue how much he sold it for? 

I see your point. as I typed I though it was a silly statement.... over 16 million , but under 17   

[Bungle]

In reality I would never sell. I work less than part time and earn in the top 0.5% of the UK. Cant imagine why I would ever give that up.

When you put it like that i dont know.

Maybe sell for a few million and retire abroad somewhere whilst never having to think about work again.

But then theres the conudrum of being bored, you cant win really.

my brother sold his business a few years ago.... I wont say the amount but it was just over 15 million.
he then moved to ireland . hes only 60 years old
he has now started another business .  in reality he never has to work again,  however he likes to keep active , and enjoys working.

he does spend a lot of time enjoying his hobbies though.

I won't say the amount but it was just over 15 million. Could you give us a clue how much he sold it for? 

I see your point. as I typed I though it was a silly statement.... over 16 million , but under 17   

I actually laughed out loud then 😂

[NWH]

As Lee said earlier makes much more sense to never sell it he knows it’s worth so much more to him as an income than it would be having some fool come along and making him a stupid offer,would most people sell their little business on here for 100-150k you can soon spend that it won’t generate much of an income or not as much as having someone working it month in month out and you taking some cream for doing very little.

[james peters]

As Lee said earlier makes much more sense to never sell it he knows it’s worth so much more to him as an income than it would be having some fool come along and making him a stupid offer,would most people sell their little business on here for 100-150k you can soon spend that it won’t generate much of an income or not as much as having someone working it month in month out and you taking some cream for doing very little.

its all subjective .... everyone is different ..... some people arent driven by money, and can be happy  living a simple life just being content and comfortable .  I would say that someone like this could sell for 150k and live a nice life and be happy.
I am like this . I am not materialistic and enjoy things that are free , such as a nice view  on a walk.
fancy cars and holidays in the sun dont interest me at all.

[DJW]

In reality I would never sell. I work less than part time and earn in the top 0.5% of the UK. Cant imagine why I would ever give that up.

Are you going to the Maldives?

[NWH]

I’ve just messaged Lee he said he’s not going to the same place as Daz apparently that’s the place that the staff that work at the proper resorts stay on days off  🤣🤣🤣🤣👌,Maldives my 👁 you wanna proper holiday there you’re talking a lot of money.

[Martin Lane]

I don't think its about how many vans you have  its about how much profit you make, you could have 20 vans all doing crap work

[NWH]

Yeah but if was all complete crap and you weren’t making anything you wouldn’t get or stay there would you,I don’t know the guy but I would say he’s at a very good point in his business earning well over 6 figures.
What do you do take a one off payment of 50-100k or earn very well each month with ease for doing very little,I know what I’d do.

[Smudger]

Yeah but if was all complete crap and you weren’t making anything you wouldn’t get or stay there would you,I don’t know the guy but I would say he’s at a very good point in his business earning well over 6 figures.
What do you do take a one off payment of 50-100k or earn very well each month with ease for doing very little,I know what I’d do.

🙄

If his wage was six figures you wouldn’t be selling for 50k would you - more like 500k upwards

[NWH]

Of course it was just an example. 

[Smudger]

Of course it was just an example.

As usual - ill informed and cr@p

Darran

[lee_dewing]

This topic reminds me of the tale:

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. “You aren’t going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman. “You should be working rather than lying on the beach!”

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, “And what will my reward be?”

“Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer.

“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The businessman replied, “You will make money and you’ll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!”

“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again.

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions. “You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!” he said.

“And then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman.

The businessman was getting angry. “Don’t you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!”

Once again the fisherman asked, “And then what will my reward be?”

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “Don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won’t have a care in the world!”

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “And what do you think I’m doing right now?”

Story: Heinrich Boll


“Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.” –Bertolt Brecht

[Always shining]

To sell something as big as Lees for big money would be difficult but not impossible. If the books are showing many years trading and all the guys/girls are long term employees then in theory it could be sold as a very good going concern.
Trying to find someone with that kind of money to hand who knows the game would be the difficult bit. Very limited market.
Easy solution is to break it all up and sell it in chunks. Always buyers for good quality well established work.
Simples!!

[NWH]

I would say some of the offers would be insulting for what’s gone in to it and what it reaps,for the amount someone would probably offer the never ending pension it would give wouldn’t make it attractive to sell,just my opinion.

[Always shining]

To sell it as a whole you’re probably right.
In chunks is the way forward. Still end up with a very hefty amount but would it be what it’s actually worth after years of grafting probably not. But still a nice amount and you will still have had many years of ‘wages’ from it don’t forget.

[NWH]

What carve up all those rounds and get tyre kickers round trying to pay 10-15k for 1 round lol again it would be a waste of time,given the choice of a big lump some I’d take that lovely   6 figure  pension 👌.

[CleanClear]

Float the company...........

[Always shining]

So any rounds that are ever sold only get tyre kickers round to look who only pay low a price?
If the rounds are good solid compact established rounds then they will fetch what they’re worth which will be between 5-10 times a monthly clean. That’s what rounds go for and have always gone for. I sold my first one 34 years ago and it’s not changed as of when I sold my last one a few months ago. And remember you’ve still had years of wages out of them as well. If you’ve split it up into lots of chunks then the overall figure would be more than if someone offered you a lump sum for the whole lot surely? But it all depends on the kind of work, how established it is and where it is etc.
Like always that’s just my opinion and you have your opinion.

[robbo333]

I rented a unit next to a guy who reconditioned gearboxes. That's all he did, gearboxes! People (garages and main dealers) would send their cars to him, he would take out the gearbox, strip it, recondition it, refit it and hey presto! (He said about £2K per gearbox). His daughter worked with him too, he always seem contented, calm and happy.

On one occasion he told me, he had sold his business a few years ago and retired to Spain. He bought a big house and a large plot of land because his wife had horses. He said that one day he was sitting on his ride on lawn mower bored to tears when he found out that someone in his village had a problem with their gearbox. He fixed it for them (I'm guessing for hardly any money) and that was it. He's now back in the UK and built a business again.

I guess some people retire in different ways!