In this episode, I talk about what happens when a business owner reaches a point where the business no longer needs them. BizzBee Solutions is running smoothly, and I’m not as excited about it as I once was. With some extra money in hand, I considered investing in the stock exchange, but the returns didn’t seem worth it. Starting a new business also feels like too much work at this stage, so I explored different options.
I’ve been thinking about becoming a business angel—investing in an existing business or joining a passionate team and providing both capital and expertise. This approach allows me to add value without being the main driving force behind the business. I share my thought process and invite listeners to reflect on what they would do in my situation: invest in stocks, start a new business, or support others as a business angel.
transcript:
Hello, everybody, and welcome again! Greetings from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. I just climbed some seriously tough stairs, and while I’m catching my breath, I’ve got something on my mind that I’ve been thinking about for a while—so now seems like the perfect time to record a podcast.
As business owners, we sometimes get tired of our businesses. After a while, we make money, we grow, and then we reach a point where the company no longer needs us to function. That’s where I am now. BizzBee Solutions is doing well on its own, and I don’t feel that same excitement anymore. So I thought, what’s next? I need something new to ignite my passion, and now I have some extra money to invest.
Initially, I considered putting my money into the stock exchange—something low-effort that would generate passive income. But when I did the math, a 5-6% return didn’t seem all that attractive. It felt like I’d need to invest a massive amount just to see a decent return. And let’s be honest, as an entrepreneur, the stock exchange feels a bit too hands-off for me.
Then I thought about starting a new company, but I quickly remembered all the sleepless nights and the hustle that comes with launching a business from scratch. At 38, starting over feels like a lot of work. I’m looking for something that requires less of my time and effort. So I began exploring other options—like buying an existing business through platforms like Flippa or Acquire. But again, I’d need to hire someone to maintain it or get into the technical weeds myself, which is not ideal since I’m not a developer.
This brought me to the idea of becoming a business angel. Instead of acquiring a business outright, I could invest in one or become a partial owner. That way, I’d get the team as well, and I wouldn’t have to learn everything from scratch. I could add value where it’s needed, but the business could keep growing without me being involved in every detail. That sounds much more appealing.
The idea is to find people who are passionate about what they’re doing and join them in their venture. Whether it’s a restaurant, a golf club, or any other business, I could provide the capital and the expertise, and they would run the business. It’s a win-win. As entrepreneurs, we often want to be the driving force, but at this stage in my life, I’m more interested in supporting others while leveraging my experience.
I think this is a great approach for business owners who are looking for their next challenge. Instead of starting from scratch, consider finding a passionate team and supporting them with your expertise and capital. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Would you invest in stocks, start a new business, or explore the business angel route?