Rhizomorph

Lots of food for thought there and I'm meeting some business agents soon to get their take on it. I had initially planned to just close down and sell the gear but anything extra would be useful. Some thoughts on various comments below. I have run the business as both contracting and consultancy over the last few years. The consultancy is more profitable but I struggle to offer a good service to both sides and I can't grow my own consultancy side with the time demands of the contracting. This is why I am looking to finish the contracting. Also finding the right person to manage it would not be easy. Although the contracting makes a fair profit it is nowhere near what we were doing 3 years ago like most arb companies around here, however it still provides a steady income with clients more concerned about quality than price. The partnership offer provides the extra security of merging my consultancy client base with a full time practice and having the benefits of working as a 2 man team rather than solo. - career progression, collaberation, different expertise, holiday cover! etc and not least increased profitability. The risks of personal friction, less control etc are part of the trade off.

As we're at an early stage and I don't want to make location obvious at this point but we are remote and rural. An attractive but not particularly affluent part of the country. Its not an area you'd flock to to make your fortune - but people move this way for the general environment. Sorry I can't be more precise at this point but I know several local contractors who use this forum.

Up until this year I've not been on site very often apart from providing advice and quoting so I would expect that the good will would continue for as long as the good service was provided. As I would just be doing consultancy I would only take that portion of the customer base with me.

The business has been run as a sole trader. We turn over about 100k and most of this is repeat custom from our mainly domestic client base. We also do some commercial works. 'Goodwill' would be the biggest asset but putting a figure on that is where I would need help. At present there is only one employee on the books. The intention is to sell the business and kit as a going concern.

Hi I have been offered a job with an arboricultural consultancy which is a great opportunity for me. I have run a small arb contracting business for 10 years and would have to give this up to take the job. I've spoken to the Federation of Small Businesses re Legal obligations of closing or selling the business but it would be interesting to see how anyone else has gone about valuing and marketing their businesses and how succesful they were in selling, how long it took etc