BusinessesForSale.com CEO and Co-Founder Andrew Markou was featured in a lengthy article by the Daily Mail’s This Is Money, which focuses on entrepreneurship and personal finance.
The piece highlighted growing demand for buying businesses as an alternate route to financial stability, as the traditional corporate career ladder begins to look very shaky in 2026. Business buying, alongside franchising, is an increasingly popular option for young people, women, and employees recently made redundant.
“We’re seeing a clear shift in how people are approaching business ownership,” said Markou. “What’s also changing is who those buyers are. Business ownership is no longer dominated by a narrow group of wealthy or serial entrepreneurs.
“We’re seeing growing interest from younger people – including graduates struggling to get established in a tougher jobs market – as well as older professionals looking for a second act after corporate careers end earlier or more abruptly than expected.”
Purchasing a Franchise at Just 24 Years Old
The article examined how the franchise model works, and what new investors would need to do to get started in the world of franchising. The Mail spoke to a Black Sheep Coffee franchisee, Aaron Johal, who discovered Black Sheep through using BusinessesForSale.com.
Aaron purchased a franchise location in Birmingham at just 24, after graduating from Loughborough University with an economics and finance degree. He funded it with family help, his own savings and a loan from HSBC.
“I’ve always thought from a young age that if I am going to work really hard and put all the hours in, then I’m going to do it for the maximum return and in the most fulfilling nature as possible. I enjoy and appreciate the value of getting out whatever I put in.”
After Aaron’s franchise location exceeded its sales expectations, he’s now planning to open another branch in Manchester. He says: “Obviously there is a level of risk. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve felt much more in control of my own destiny and, in an uncertain world, that feels like a better bet than leaving your future in someone else’s hands.”
Advice for First-Time Business Buyers
The article looked at a range of businesses currently for sale on BusinessesForSale.com, highlighting the accessible asking prices of some on the lower end of the spectrum. These included an ice cube supplier in Wiltshire and a gardening business in Wrexham.
The article also provided some advice for first-time buyers, who should expect a significant shift in work-life balance if they choose to take on their own business. Reliability of income is also lower when compared with being an employee, so the Mail advised first-time buyers to have a ‘rainy day’ fund set aside.
Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The early days in charge of a new venture can be a lot to handle, so make sure you and your family are prepared as far as possible.
“The financial impact, especially if you’ve taken on debt to close the deal, could take a while to stabilise, so make sure that you have a plan in place for the long term, as well as for the immediate future.”
BusinessesForSale.com CEO Andrew Markou advised that first-time buyers should focus on numbers, and that businesses which might seem ‘boring’ can often be the smartest investments.
He said: “Often, the biggest mistake people make when buying a business is focusing on the romantic idea rather than the cold, hard numbers. When buying a business, start with the basics: cash flow, profit and consistency. Look at the audited accounts going back several years.”