Why I wouldn't sell this business yet
When I talk to founders who are thinking about selling, the first question I ask isn't "what's your revenue?"
It's "why now?"
The answer tells me everything. Nine times out of ten, the reason has nothing to do with the business reaching its peak value. It's burnout. It's uncertainty about what comes next. It's a $2M offer that feels life-changing — until you realise the business could be worth $8M with a few months of focused work.
The mistake most founders make
They sell when the business is dependent on them. A buyer looks at that and sees risk, not value. They'll discount the price because the business stops working if you walk away.
The fix isn't complicated: reduce dependency, increase revenue, build distribution. But it takes time — and most founders don't give themselves enough of it.
What to fix before you list
- **Reduce owner involvement** — Can the business run for a week without you? A month?
- **Diversify revenue** — One channel is a risk. Two is a business. Three is an asset.
- **Build repeatable marketing** — If you stop posting, does the pipeline dry up?
- **Clean up the books** — Buyers pay a premium for clarity, not complexity.
The threshold question
If someone offered you 80% of what you want for the business today, would you take it? If the answer is yes, you're probably not ready to sell — you're just tired.
The good news: tired is fixable. And when you fix it, the business is worth dramatically more.