Leo liquidated his 401(k). He ignored the nagging voice in his head about "due diligence" and "platform risk." He saw himself in Bali, sipping a coconut while the maps sold themselves. He signed the asset purchase agreement and wired the funds.
Six months later, the profit was only $1,500—less than half of what Arthur promised. But the traffic was real. The customers were loyal. And for the first time, the business wasn't something Leo had bought; it was something he had earned. i want to buy an online business
It was a niche e-commerce store selling high-quality reprints of 18th-century nautical maps. The numbers were perfect. $4,000 monthly net profit, lean operations, and a 4.5-star rating on Shopify. The seller, a retiree named Arthur, wanted out to spend more time wood-turning. Leo liquidated his 401(k)