Anyone here ever create a business for the sole purpose of selling it?

[bull]

I'm thinking about promoting a business I've had for years for the pupose of selling it. I really don't have much in the way of assets other than a large customer list and an incorporated name so I don't expect to make a huge haul but what do you think something like this would be worth? It's a pest control business.

Anyone have much experience with this type of process?

[70charger_boy]

When I was trying to get my pilots license it was going to cost anywhere from 42-56 grand.  I didn't want to be in debt for 6 years while I was trying to build up my hours to get a high paying corporate or airline job so I bought a 1965 piper arrow for 45 grand then leased it to a flight school and had the instructors teach me, basically for free. I was a L.L.C.  Had the plane for 5 years, wrote off alot of the expenses.  All the while I knew that hen I got my commercial license I would sell it.

[bull]

That was very smart.

[70charger_boy]

I'm the type of person that has some real great business ideas and some not so great ideas.I never use to follow through with them, because I use to ask people for their opinions.  When I told a few people about that idea they said I was real stupid and it is not going to work. 
  So Curtis, if you think you have a good idea and are willing to do the research and all the legwork, Do it and do not take No for an answer.  Whatever you do, don't use the "I don't have enough money" excuse.  If you are passionate about something you'll find the money

[nh_mopar_fan]

What makes you think it's not worth that much? A large customer list is a huge asset.

[Shakey]

What makes you think it's not worth that much? A large customer list is a huge asset.

And then sign a contract where you can stay on as a consultant for a specified amount of time.   

[Arthu®]

It's worth just as much as someone is willing to give for it. It really depends on location, competition, what your income is, liabilities and all the other blahblahblah. You do have a lot of pro's, for one it seems that it is an healthy business, you have a large costomer list and an established name. I don't think anyone here can really put a price on it based on the information you have given here.

Arthur

[MichaelRW]

Try this out:

http://www.tsusbdc.org/What%20is%20your%20Business%20Worth.htm

[ck1]

I had a two friends that did this one had a window tinting business and the other had a burger stand called Small Fries In Fall City washington, I know they listed what they make a year total and cost to run in a year plus all there equipment and and buildings that all went along with the sale customer list etc.  The one friend that had the window tinting business got around $125,000 for his business that was really popular business in the mid 90's and the burgerstand as $250,000.  Both of these business were well established, I remember eating at Small Fries regularly at work for lunch and the wait started to get as long as 45 minutes, but it was worth it, he only sold pop, a lunch sack full of fries and a fresh ground, not frozen burger, called the monster burger, and he ran the stand himself and it got to much for him to run anymore so he sold it in the late 80's.........

[dkn1997]

service businesses are very good for this purpose.  If you are talented and can set it up right, you can build up and sell off territories, then when all of your territories are gone, start up all over again and sell again.  the catch is you have to be good at it.