BusinessesForSale.com CEO Andrew Markou was featured in the Daily Express with this opinion piece, showcasing how changing attitudes to work are pushing more Britons towards business ownership.
For a long time, the unwritten promise of working life in the UK felt straightforward: secure a job, work diligently, stay loyal, and stability would follow. That promise is starting to look increasingly uncertain. More people across the country are reassessing what “security” really means – and for many, remaining in traditional employment no longer feels like the safest option.
Having spent over three decades building and running BusinessesForSale, one of the UK’s largest platforms for buying and selling businesses, I’ve watched this shift unfold up close. What’s changed isn’t just the job market – it’s how people think about control, risk and long-term success.
At both ends of the workforce, confidence in conventional career paths is weakening. Younger professionals are finding it harder to establish themselves. Entry-level opportunities are more competitive, career progression feels less predictable, and emerging technologies are adding a layer of uncertainty about the future of many roles.
At the same time, more experienced professionals are discovering that corporate careers don’t always wind down gradually. Instead, they can end abruptly, often leaving people with significant experience but limited clear pathways back into similar roles.
As a result, the idea that employment guarantees long-term stability is losing ground. In its place, we’re seeing a more considered, pragmatic approach to career decisions. Increasingly, people are choosing to step away from the corporate ladder and explore business ownership – not by starting from scratch, but by acquiring established, profitable businesses.
This isn’t about chasing risk. Quite the opposite. For many, buying an existing business offers a more predictable route into entrepreneurship. There’s already a customer base, proven revenue, and operational history – all of which can significantly reduce the uncertainty that comes with starting a business from zero.
We’ve seen this reflected clearly in our own data. Demand for established businesses has been rising steadily, and the profile of buyers has evolved. Where once the market was dominated by seasoned entrepreneurs or investors, today we’re seeing a growing number of first-time buyers. Many come from corporate backgrounds, bringing transferable skills and a strong desire to take greater control over their working lives.
In many ways, this marks a return to something more traditional: individuals building their own livelihoods through ownership, independence and local enterprise.
However, it’s important to approach this shift with a clear head. Owning a business is not a shortcut to easy success. The fundamentals still matter – understanding cash flow, maintaining consistent profitability, and being realistic about the time and effort required. The most successful buyers are those who treat the process with discipline, focusing on the underlying numbers rather than the lifestyle appeal.
Another key consideration is motivation. Understanding why a business is being sold, assessing its long-term viability, and seeking proper advice are all essential steps. Done properly, buying a business can offer both financial reward and a level of control that is increasingly hard to find in traditional employment.
What’s clear is that attitudes toward work are evolving. More people are actively choosing paths that give them greater autonomy and resilience, rather than relying solely on the structures of the job market.
From what I’ve seen over the years, this isn’t a passing trend. It’s a fundamental shift in how people define security and success – and business ownership is becoming a central part of that conversation.