Two WNC success stories illustrate what that chapter can look like when owners plan and approach the decision thoughtfully. 

Built for family, sold for freedom 

John and Tracy Hastings moved to the Boone–Blowing Rock area in 1989 and built a business that grew alongside their family. What began as a home inspection company evolved into Radon Control Services, a radon testing, mitigation, and crawlspace encapsulation business serving Western North Carolina. 

For John and Tracy, entrepreneurship was always about more than income. Owning a business gave them the flexibility to be present in their children's lives and shape their work schedules around family priorities. 

Years later, as their children became adults and their interests began to shift, John and Tracy began thinking about the future. Their children were now pursuing their own careers, and the couple started to sketch out a five-year plan that included the possibility of selling the business. 

In 2019, I met with John and Tracy to discuss those plans. Their goal was not to sell immediately, but to prepare the business so it could successfully transfer to new ownership when the time was right. That preparation proved valuable as we strengthened the company for an eventual sale. 

In 2020, COVID caused a surge in buyer demand for small businesses providing residential services, and their plans to sell accelerated. Looking back on that moment, John described the experience in a way that captures what many owners feel when they reach the finish line: 

"It was not just a financial transaction. It was like a complete life change." 

John and Tracy embraced that life change. They traveled extensively, purchased homes to remodel in Italy and Arizona, and launched new business ventures and creative projects. Selling the business did not slow them down; it gave them the freedom to redirect their time and energy toward new opportunities. 

Because they started preparing years before they were ready to sell, they were able to move quickly when the market shifted in their favor. 

A new definition of success 

Doug and Lorrie Worrell's story took a different path but arrived at a similar destination. 

High Country Furniture & Design began in 1996 as a small retail store founded by Doug's mother, Anne Worrell, called Cabin Fever. Doug and Lorrie later left their corporate careers to join the business, helping it grow into one of WNC’s most successful furniture retailers. 

Retail is demanding work. The long hours and constant responsibility began to weigh on Doug, especially as family circumstances changed. After his father passed away and his mother moved away from the area, Doug found himself carrying even more of the workload. 

At the same time, his perspective on success evolved. Instead of focusing on more growth and higher revenue, he began thinking more about spending time with family, traveling, and pursuing new interests. Doug explained, "Time became a bigger factor to me than the money or the growth of the stores." 

That realization led him to proceed with the sale of the business. Looking back on the process, Doug admits it required more guidance than he expected. 

"I had no idea the extent of the help I needed," Doug reflected. 

Selling a business involves far more than simply finding a buyer. Having an experienced advisor to guide owners through the process can provide clarity and peace of mind at every stage. 

For Doug, the outcome has been life changing. Instead of managing multiple retail operations, he and Lorrie now spend their time traveling, mentoring young couples at their church, enjoying family and grandchildren, and, for Doug, playing pickleball. The transition gave them something business owners often crave but rarely achieve: the freedom to choose how they spend their time. 

Realizing that time had become more valuable than growth confirmed that it was the right moment for them to exit. 

The transformation after the transaction 

While John and Tracy's story and Doug and Lorrie's story are different, they share an important theme: selling a business is not just about numbers; it is about the life that follows. Some owners will retire in a traditional way, while others will launch new ventures, travel the world, or reclaim time with family. In every case, the most successful outcomes happen when owners start early and plan well. 

For many, that planning includes building a team of advisors who can help clarify goals, prepare the business, and guide them through the sale so they can focus on what comes next. If you are starting to imagine your own "life after the sale," now is the time to begin that conversation. 

Jeff McKeehan is the Managing Partner for Viking Mergers & Acquisitions in Western North Carolina. With 25+ years of M&A experience, Jeff enjoys guiding clients through the process of selling their business.