You Built the Business. Don’t Let It Own You.

Most folks in the trades don’t start out thinking about how to leave their business.

You start with a skill.

You get good at it. You hire a guy or two.

Before long, you’ve got a few vans on the road, jobs booked weeks out, and you’re barely keeping up.

You’re running payroll, pricing quotes, fixing screwups, ordering materials, doing taxes—plus actually doing the work.

It’s nonstop. And somewhere in there, you start to wonder:

“Is this thing worth anything if I step away?”

The honest answer?

It depends.

The Problem Nobody Talks About

I’ve worked with owners in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing—you name it.

And too many of them wait way too long to figure out what their business is really worth… or how to get it ready to sell.

By the time they’re burnt out or their back gives out, it’s too late.

They don’t have clean books.

The crew relies too much on the boss being on site.

There’s no process, no plan, no system that runs without them.

Buyers see that—and they walk.

What This Toolkit Is All About

This isn’t some MBA nonsense about “maximizing shareholder value.”

This is for trades business owners who’ve worked 10, 20, even 30 years and want to own their exit—whether that means selling, handing it off, or winding down without getting screwed.

I’ll be posting:

• Real-world advice (no jargon)
• Step-by-step guides (how to prep your books, fix your margins, make yourself replaceable)
• Templates (like non-disclosure agreements, sales checklists, etc.)
• Stories from owners who’ve been there

Why Start Now?

Because the earlier you start, the more control you have.

You don’t wait until the storm hits to fix the roof.

If you plan right, your business can be a saleable asset—not just a job you created for yourself.

But no one’s going to do it for you. Not your accountant. Not your cousin who “knows a guy.”

That’s why this exists.

What You Can Do Today

Here’s one small step:

Write down what would happen to your business if you got hit by a truck tomorrow.

• Who would call the customers?
• Who would pay the crew?
• Who knows where the money’s at?

If you don’t like your answer, you’re in the right place.

Stick around. Subscribe. Read. Ask questions.

You built it. Now let’s make sure you can walk away on your own terms.

Want to know what your business is really worth?
Get the Exit Ready Toolkit →

— Tim