Afterwards

Starting something again

A large proportion of sellers of small online businesses start something else within two years.

What carries over

Knowing what to ignore. Second companies tend to be built with cleaner structures from the first day: registrations in the right name, separated costs, documented processes, a second person with access. All the things the first sale forced into being.

What tends to change

Fewer products, less stock, more focus on the part the owner actually enjoys. Businesses started after an exit are usually smaller in ambition and better in structure.

The non-compete question

Whatever is planned next should be checked against the clause signed at completion. That is a five minute exercise before starting and a serious problem afterwards.

Buying instead of building

Some former owners buy rather than build the second time, on the reasoning that they now understand exactly what to look for. Businesses currently offered across Europe are listed at (https://www.businessforsale.eu/online-business-for-sale).