The Adventures of Lee The SME Owner

Lee sat at his desk, staring at the email from John. Attached were two documents: one was the summary of their recent conversation along with John’s suggestions and recommendations, and the other was something that made Lee feel a twinge of nervousness—the Fair Market Valuation.

The question of What’s my business worth? had been sitting in the back of his mind ever since he’d started thinking about an exit. It was the million-dollar question, quite literally. And now, thanks to John’s arrangement with Tabak Business Sales, Lee had the answer sitting in front of him—at least, he hoped he did.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Part of him was excited to see the numbers. Over the years, he’d built this business from the ground up, put in blood, sweat, and more hours than he cared to count. The idea that all of that effort had a tangible, monetary value was both validating and, frankly, a little intimidating.

He clicked on the first document—John’s report. It was clear, just like everything John had done so far. The recommendations were broken down into manageable steps, focusing on key areas like strengthening his team’s ability to operate more independently, cleaning up some of the internal systems to make things easier for a potential buyer, and thinking about the timeline for either stepping back or finding a partner.

John had also noted some personal reflections from their conversation—about Lee’s reluctance to fully let go but his clear desire to slow down. It was all laid out in a way that felt both practical and supportive.

But now, the valuation.

Lee took a deep breath and opened the second document—the Fair Market Valuation prepared by Tabak Business Sales. As the numbers filled the screen, he scanned through the valuation methodology. It wasn’t a simple number; there were ranges based on different factors, all carefully explained. The valuation considered things like cash flow, profitability, existing contracts, and the overall market conditions.

Lee sat back in his chair, feeling the weight of the numbers. It was a lot to take in. The number wasn’t as high as his wildest dreams, but it wasn’t a gut punch either. In fact, it felt... reasonable.

For years, he’d thought about what his business might be worth, tossing numbers around in his head. Sometimes, when things were going well, he’d imagined it being worth a fortune—something that would set him and Julie up comfortably for life. Other times, when the stress was piling on, he’d worried it might not be worth as much as he’d hoped.

But this number, sitting in front of him, felt solid. And as he read through the analysis, he realised it wasn’t just the valuation that mattered—it was how the business was positioned. There were areas where he could increase value, steps he could take to make the business even more attractive to a potential buyer, and things he could work on to ensure a smoother transition if and when he decided to sell.

He wasn’t shocked, but there was still something sobering about seeing his entire life’s work summed up in a dollar amount.

John had been careful to warn him that this moment could stir up some emotions. For many business owners, seeing the valuation can be a moment of reckoning—either they’re surprised by how much they’ve created or disheartened when the number doesn’t match their expectations.

For Lee, it was somewhere in between. He wasn’t disappointed, but there was a sense of finality in the number. It made everything feel a bit more real, more immediate. This wasn’t just a vague idea anymore. It was something he could work with, something he could plan around.

He closed the laptop and leaned back, staring out the window. The yard was as busy as ever, the familiar hum of machinery and voices carrying through the afternoon air. He thought about the years he’d spent building this business—everything he’d sacrificed, the late nights, the hard decisions. And now, it was all laid out in a report, a tangible value for the intangible hours and effort.

But it wasn’t the end. If anything, it felt like the beginning of something new. He had options. He had time to think. And most importantly, he had a plan—one that would allow him to take the next steps without rushing, without losing control of what he’d built.

Lee exhaled, feeling a strange sense of both relief and anticipation. There was still a long road ahead, but now, for the first time, he had some clarity.

Now what? he thought to himself. But this time, the question wasn’t daunting. It was full of possibility.

With John’s report in one hand and the valuation in the other, Lee knew he had a lot to consider. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was ready to take it all on—one step at a time.

If you'd like a chat or take a closer look at what RegenerationHQ is all about, have a look - www.regenerationhq.co.nz