Anyone ever sell their home-based webdesign business?

Hello everyone,
I've been doing really well with my webdesign business (about a year old) and am looking towards the future. My strategy is to hopefully sell the business in the next 10-15 years or so, however, I am not sure whether it's even possible.

1.) Is it possible to sell a one-man webdesign company (I use subcontractors) that is home-based? I was looking over this awesome book called "The Owner's Manual for Small Business" and it says that one-man consulting businesses are sold all the time. I am just not sure if it's the same as a one-man webdesign business.

Anyone have any experience with this and/or have any advice they'd like to share?

 

I think it is possible for you to sell, a lot of new designers might be looking forward to owning an established company with a good reputation from the beginning, rather than having to build their reputation/company portfolio from scratch.

In 10-15 years your small business should have grown enough to have at least an employee, so it won't be a one-man business .

 

That's what I don't want to do. I prefer to stay small, home-based and not have to pay employee benefits, taxes, etc. With subcontractors, I get away with a lot. Even the IRS admits this on their website.

Either way, a small business fits my lifestyle and personality better than an office.

Maybe having an employee or two will make the sale more attractive?

 

I think in general terms say if you had 2 employees, then you decide to sell the business while at the same time packaging the 2 employees into the deal

This puts the buyer in more of a 'comfort zone' as he is considering to buy a business with human resources

A 1 man business is a 1 man business with only the keyman to package into any deal

Highly unlikely to sell as the potential buyer will probably think they buy the business from the 1 guy ................ then he starts up again with a new company in the same business

IMHO

 

That's true, but how do one-man businesses sell in the first place? I keep reading about how so and so sold his consulting business (he's the only employee...well he's the owner too!) and retired, etc.

How do they do it?

 

I guess that they are not only selling their business, they are also selling a good reputation which they built over years. Since this is a design company you can also give the buyer your client list and hosting reseller account (a lot of webdesigners offer hosting for their customers, this way they can continue to profit even after they are finished with a client's page [usually only smaller clients]).

 

I think people pay for the clientele. Same way a dentist might sell his practice.

I have an SEO consulting firm... this thread at earners forum might interest you in terms of growing your business : http://www.earnersforum.com/showthread.php?t=4988&highlight=selling+services

Incidentally, I'm looking for small web designers who do outsourcing like you to send SEO my way. I also offer commissions, besides the ability for you to charge markup like with normal outsourcing. Let me know if you're interested (pm, or email bookworm.seo at gmail).