A Business Owner’s Daughter: Protecting the Legacy of Hard Work

I am the daughter of business owners. 

Becca Mowrey, Client Experience Director, Doescher Group

My parents were hardworking, dedicated, honest, generous, and people of deep integrity. They still are today.

The company began humbly, in the basement of our house. With a young family to care for and finances already stretched thin, my mom cashed in her $7,000 savings to buy the first precious machine. Together, they took a leap of faith. 

From there, my dad poured himself into the business, which manufactured all sorts of metal parts for cars and buildings, and it quickly grew — eventually taking over four large buildings across the Twin Cities. 

From the outside, it looked like the American dream — and in many ways, it was. The business grew, people were employed, and our family was proud of what my dad had built. We all pitched in along the way: stuffing envelopes, answering phones at reception, inspecting parts on the assembly line, and even interning in finance. The company wasn’t just my dad’s work; it was our family’s story.

But business ownership comes with a cost. I remember the toll it took on my dad — the worry when sales didn’t come through, and payroll was due, the heaviness of letting people go, the scramble when big orders landed and had to be fulfilled. I remember the constant push to innovate and learn new industries in precision manufacturing just to stay competitive.

For every moment of pride, there were moments of deep stress and sacrifice that our whole family felt. 

And then came the perfect storm of 2008. When the economy collapsed, everything changed. Despite my dad’s determination — and my mom’s unwavering encouragement — the business never fully recovered to what it once was. 

Eventually, my parents chose to sell, and although they did well, they walked away with far less than the company was truly worth. A lifetime of sacrifice, risk, and resilience — with only a fraction of the return.

Knowing what I know now, I can see just how different running a business is from preparing one to be sold.

I’ve learned:

• Profit keeps you alive, but transferability is what creates value. Buyers look for a company that can thrive even when the founder steps away.

• Owners track operational results, while buyers look for financial storytelling. In a sale, the financials must tell a compelling story — one that reflects true earnings, future potential, and the risk removed.

• Owners often solve for the present, while buyers invest in the future. Buyers aren’t just investing in what you’ve built, but in what your business has the potential to become.

I wish I could go back and help set up strategies, create assurance, and protect the legacy. I can’t do that for them. But I can do that for others.

No business owner should have to walk away with less than the true worth of their life’s work.

Recommended Read: Preparing Your Business For Exit is Just Good Business Strategy

Despite the hardships, my family grew stronger because of the business. We learned perseverance, resilience, and the value of hard work. For that, I’m deeply grateful — and I wouldn’t trade those lessons for anything. But watching what could have been simply disappear because you don’t know how to navigate this unfamiliar financial terrain, on a playing field that is set up for you to lose, is something no family should have to experience - but I know now that it happens far too often.

CONSIDER THIS: 75% of Business Owners deeply regret the sale of their business.

If you’d like to know more about the comprehensive Exit Planning Institute study that uncovers relevant statistics like this one, check out our blog post From Boomers to Gen X: How Business Owner Trends Are Shaping The Market

For me, this isn’t just professional.
This is personal.

That’s why I’m passionate about the work we do at Doescher Group. Business ownership will always come with ups and downs — but with the right planning and support, owners can protect their legacy, capture the value they’ve worked so hard for, and provide both security and opportunity for their families.

If you’ve poured your life into your business, make sure you — and your family — reap the full reward.