To sell my business and work from home because I just can’t stand people anymore

[Pillowswopping]

After another very busy Saturday at my business I’m edging more and more to selling up and trying to find some kind of online business- or something because I’m finding my patience at working with clients wearing extremely thin.

It’s been an absolute labour of love setting up - where just going in to our fourth year. We are getting well know in the community- all good. But I feel like I’m done.

I feel like my staff are under appreciated at the fantastic work they do and people’s expectations are getting higher and and more unrealistic yet only want to pay for the absolute bare minimum or try and get a freebie.

I have lolly’s I give out to kids and I’d just given one out and their relative wanted one and and made a big song and dance about coming behind reception ( uninvited) to get one like the class clown. It really set my teeth on edge. Normally I’d have laughed it off🙈

I really want to sell and work from home so I don’t have to ‘people’. Family and friends I have talked about it think I’m bonkers. It’s regulated business so lots of pressure to always be compliant, rising costs, high competition from my competitors who are driving the prices of services down. Can’t be a frickin ‘school mum’ so miss out on loads of school stuff.

I know I’m very very lucky to be financially stable. But there had got to be more to life than this? Maybe I’m having a midlife crisis 🫤

Fed up.

Can you somehow keep the business going and move yourself to a non customer facing role?
I (sometimes) hate people too, and often day dream of working on a production line putting things into boxes with zero human interaction.

Yep I have though dreams too 🙈. Imagine being able to switch off when you go home for the weekend.

I could but ultimately it would mean taking on more staff so less profit and still all the risks.

I’ve always enjoyed working with the public - I’ve actually come from a training background so used to it but just feel so tapped out at the moment. Maybe I should just get blotto 🍷😁

Life is short. If you have other options then I'd consider taking them.

life is indeed short. The biggest driver is that I feel like I don’t spend enough quality time with my kids - maybe that’s why I’m getting pissed off with clients so easily.

I seen a wall plaque today that said

"I used to be a people person but people ruined it for me"

I feel similar. So after leaving my last office role I started a WFH business in the same field but instead of selling directly to clients, I subcontract for other companies in my field. Yes I still have clients but they are all in the industry and get it. They deal with the actual clients and I get to deal with competent adults who have the same interest as me.

Could something like this apply? Could you hire an assistant who will take on more of the client facing parts of your job so you can reduce your interactions to a bearable amount?

🍷

Good for you for making that jump. I bet you don’t regret it.

I’d have to hire a compliance manager and that will be ££££ other wise I would.

My business is a clinic so unable to transfer to WFH but have considered training people to start their own replica- but it’s too niche.

I’m googling and YouTubing online business ideas - trying to stop myself from getting the wine out 😂

Its awesome yes!! I also got to pick out the parts of the job I enjoy most so now i spend 90% of the time drawing (i work in design/construction) which is the whole reason I went into my field.

Will hiring a compliance manager cost more then the profit your business make you? Could you still do that and derive enough of an income to survive while you explore other things? What about a job share? If you weren't dealing with customers full time would you feel more tolerant towards that part of the job? Is a compliance manager someone who is qualified externally or could you train someone up and therefore get them for a initially lower rate? or offer a qualified person their first role for the same reason. You have done training in the past and this could for well with your skills?

It does seem unwise to completely abandon a successful business for fields unknown.

If your business is a private healthcare clinic, is selling it to a bigger player an option?

Oh gosh I wouldn’t walk away with out having something substantial to swop it with.

I could train someone up to be the compliance manager - my receptionist is very capable. That’s potentially an idea I could take a back seat and lower income, raise hers whilst I worked on something else. I’d miss my team though so I’d be in there micro managing 😂😂 BUT that has actually given me food for thought. Thank you.

Im glad you made the leap - it’s given me inspiration 🍷

I’ve been hoping so. I’m in a pretty good spot.