As baby boomers exit the workforce in record numbers, many are putting long-running small businesses up for sale. For aspiring entrepreneurs with $100,000 or more saved, the idea is tempting: buy a steady, unglamorous local company, keep the cash flowing and skip the startup grind.
But a recent Reddit discussion in r/smallbusiness shows that buying a “boring” business isn’t as simple as it sounds.
There were success stories sprinkled throughout the thread. One buyer said he “bought small and scaled,” eventually more than doubling his annual take-home pay. Another commenter said, “I bought a business I knew I could understand,” and grew revenue 400%.
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A liquor store owner said he now owns three locations, structuring deals creatively to manage heavy inventory costs. One investor purchased a ballroom dance studio for roughly this price range and called it “a cash cow,” noting that niche markets with limited competition can quietly thrive.
One business broker in the thread offered their advice. “Do not focus on popular business industries,” he wrote. “The right opportunities are the ones that match your interests, experience, skills, location, and budget.” He also pushed back on the idea that retiring owners automatically mean better deals. “Only about a 1/3 of sellers are retiring, and their businesses aren’t any better than anyone else’s.”
A friend of another commenter bought a self-storage operation from a retiring owner in Florida and “is doing well with it.” Even the auto parts store was mentioned as having margins “supercharged” after modernization under new ownership.
Several experienced operators warned that a $200,000 business typically generates around $50,000 to $60,000 in seller discretionary earnings. In other words, you’re likely “buying a job.”
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Laundromats were mentioned repeatedly. Some called them durable and recession-resistant. Others said older locations are maintenance nightmares, with constant machine breakdowns and expensive replacements.
Liquor stores also came up as “cash cows,” but with heavy inventory costs and strict state laws. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as plumbing, were described as durable because “everyone needs HVAC in their homes,” yet highly competitive due to private equity money flooding the sector.
