As Brian Warren approached his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, his father-in-law Robert Roakes, the owner of The Village Woodworker, was ready to retire too. Warren had been working alongside Roakes for ten years and talked with him about carrying on his woodworking legacy, which led to the opportunity to purchase the woodworking business from his father-in-law. The business, The Village Woodworker, has been in the family for nearly 65 years and is known for their unique designs and quality artisanship. The Village Woodworker makes custom designed furniture and specialize in state of the art, handcrafted hardwood stools.

Brian reached out to Maine SBDC Business Advisor Ashleigh Briggs for assistance in understanding the process of buying a business. Together Ashleigh and Brian reviewed the business’s financial statements and various methodologies for valuing a business, so the seller and buyer could settle on a fair price. After settling on a purchase price with his father-in-law, Brian worked with Ashleigh to develop a business plan and supporting financial projections to be able to apply for a loan to complete the sale.

After four months of work together, Brian successfully obtained a loan from Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) that allowed him to complete the purchase and transfer of the business, moving the business into its third generation of family ownership.

Brian continues to work with Maine SBDC to learn about hiring and employee management practices and makes use of educational workshops.

Story shared with permission by the Maine SBDC.