Situation

The owner who has had enough

Nothing is wrong with the business. The owner simply cannot face another season of it.

The pattern

Results are steady, the operation works, and the owner has stopped enjoying any of it. The thought of another peak season is what triggers the search for a way out.

What to check first

Whether the exhaustion is caused by the business or by the way it is being run. Owners in this position are often doing three jobs, one of which could be delegated tomorrow. A month with a manager in place is a cheap test of whether the answer is a sale at all.

If it is a sale

This is the most favourable starting position there is, because nothing forces the timing. Preparation can take a year, the market can be approached calmly, and offers can be declined without consequence.

The main risk is drift: the decision is postponed for another season, the results begin to reflect the loss of interest, and the eventual sale happens from a weaker position.