Mr and Mrs A run a corner shop. They have an annual turnover of £250,000 on which they make £50,000 gross profit and £25,000 net profit (the money they can actually call 'theirs' after all business expenses have been paid). They works six days a week for twelve hours a day, on Sundays they work for eight hours. They take two weeks holiday a year but have to pay someone to run the shop while they are away. They always work bank holidays with the only exception being Christmas day. They have run the business for ten years and have accounts showing the steady year on year growth of 15% in net profits.
Mr B has a window cleaning round. He has an annual turnover of £50,000 on which he makes £48,000 gross profit and £40,000 net profit. He works four and a half days a week for seven hours Monday to Thursday and four hours on Friday, with an occasional day at weekends to catch up. He takes two weeks holiday a year during which he simply leaves the business, having told his customers he will be late next time. He never works bank holidays. He has run the round for ten years and has accounts showing the steady year on year growth of 15% in net profits.
Taking into account lifestyle, the amount of time and effort needed to run the business and the profit to be gained from it, which one would you rather own?
And because of your choice, which would you say is worth the most?
If you choose the former, then you value hard work and low pay far higher than good lifestyle and high pay. You only have one life, are you sure you should be spending it that way?
I have owned a shop, and built and sold several window cleaning businesses - I know which I value the most.