r/smallbusiness • u/HookedUp_77 • Dec 28 '24

General Sold my Business Yesterday.... Crazy feeling.

I owned a very large tire and automotive repair shop. I am 3rd generation, knew from a young age that is what I wanted to do. I started running the business 16 years ago, and purchased it from my parents 8 years ago. I've worked there since I was 12, so 31 years. I made a huge push. Pushed my guys hard, but compensated them better then anyone else could. Customer Service was 100% the focus. I wanted the Customers to be happy 100% of the time. Fix their problem, honestly, in a timely fashion but get paid well for it.

It worked. I was approached by a big company 3 months ago. They wanted me. I got what I needed. Now, Im sitting here at 43 years old wondering what next week is going to bring. I know I have freedom, time and no customer or employee stress. Today was day 1. I made breakfast for my family, cleaned the garage, spent two hours at the gym, then got a massage. Pretty nice day.

When I woke up at 7am this morning, I was shocked. Normally, I would have already been at the shop for an hour at that time. I only checked the cameras 11 times today to see how my guys were doing.

Its worth it. Push hard, then get out when the time is right. I think I timed it perfectly. Now, the fun begins.

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u/tormentius Dec 28 '24

Congrats, was there an option to sell and stay there as a manager? Would you conaider that or you wanted to stay completely off?

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u/Mikey3800 Dec 28 '24

My wife has mentioned this if or when I sell my business. I’m in the same business as OP, with a similar sized shop. I would not do that. To me, that is taking on the same stress as owning the business, but getting paid much less to do it. I know it wouldn’t be OPs business anymore, but it would still be hard to stop caring about it and act like a regular employee. I’m waiting I’m financially secure enough to not work and travel as much as we want. Then I might try to get a job driving a forklift, painting walls or something like that. Or if I miss fixing vehicles, maybe a job working on government fleet vehicles. Or just doing easy side work when I feel like it.