I own a reselling business and have owned it in one form or another since 1999.

Since about 2015, I grew the business to six employees, a big warehouse and tens of thousands of customers. We were top of the game for awhile, I was even on TV!

Due to the rising costs of everything, as well as attempts to grow that didn’t work out, and added competition, I have accumulated debt for the first time in many years, over $40k. Last year my husband bailed me out of another $40k.

I am just barely making my bills of $10,700 per month. I have let go of all but two employees. I have cancelled all services I can live without and I have begun liquidating and running sales. Since we have over 30,000 items, it’s a big job! It will take a very long time to get rid of this stuff.

Every extra dime goes to paying debt, but despite working my butt off, there doesn’t seem to be any extra. I haven’t paid myself for years. Luckily, I have some financial security in the form of savings, but I feel terrible for having to use it. But what is savings for if not to use?

I’m a 43 year old woman, and am burnt out beyond belief. I think it’s time to finally throw in the towel. I need a fresh start and need to move on from this personal hellscape of stressful responsibility.

I have poured so much into this that I feel very sad, like I lost a child. I also feel like all the people who told me my dream was stupid were right. Maybe I should have listened? In the end, I won’t walk away with anything except experience.

For those of you who closed down your businesses, did you go work for someone else or start another business? I have to find a new path and persevere. It’s going to be excruciating, but I have to do it. Numbers don’t lie.

Any other advice is welcome!