The weak economy has been tough for small-business owners across the board … but for entrepreneurs in their 60s and 70s, the consequences have been particularly vexing.

The current recession has been tough on just about everyone, but few have felt such dire consequences greater than small business owners. This especially is the case when they are on the verge of retirement.

The Wall Street Journal considered this topic in a recent article aptly titled “'The Economy Stole My Retirement.'

If you are a small business owner on the one hand – a role that requires flexibility and ingenuity – and a baby-boomer on the other, then this recession has been more than a case of terrible timing. No, it’s thrust you into “business purgatory.” Do you find yourself with one foot in management and the other foot (or maybe just that big toe) in the golden sands of retirement?

A baby boomer who is a small business owner faces a very tough call right now. Should he or she sell for the best offer today, which is generally the low-ball offer, or hold out for some future value which more accurately reflects what the business is truly worth? A tough call, indeed.

For the owners of small businesses and the heads of family businesses, make no mistake about the difficulty of your position. It’s impossible to foretell the future, but since you already know what is most valuable to you (your family and your business), take the time to carefully weigh your options and seek appropriate professional counsel.

This is not the time to make emotional decisions.

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Reference: The Wall Street Journal (September 12, 2012) “'The Economy Stole My Retirement'