Some people will never own a business. They won’t buy, start, or get a franchise. Others are continually starting or buying companies. And there are subtle differences between the types of people who get into business.
My old friend Bill Pearsall coined the term “re-entrepreneur” for people who buy not start businesses. But it goes deeper. Most of the individual business buyers I work with have developed management and leadership skills in the corporate world and want to use them to grow whatever business they buy. They understand the importance of a good foundation and since they’re not “product” people there’s less chance they’ll work “in” the business.
After working with people who started a business and considered buying another one (to grow, get employees, have a different customer base, etc.) I find most of them don’t always get that you have to pay for what you’re getting.
Having started something they often ask, why would I pay (that much) for it when I can grow into it?
Neither model, either “I want to pay for a great base” or “I’ll pay a little because eventually I’ll do it myself,” is wrong. They’re just different.
“The art of the creative process is not seeking and finding; it’s bumbling.” Jonathan Safran Foer