Making a career change is rarely easy, and it gets even more challenging when you decide to become self-employed and run your own business. But with the right guidance, the process becomes much smoother, and the results can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s the inspiring story of Jean-François Lambert, now the proud owner of Europ’Aventure, a company that organises hiking trips in the Ardennes.
What made you leap?
For several years, I had been thinking about becoming self-employed — either by launching a business or by acquiring an existing one. Eventually, I decided the time had come. In May 2019, I handed in my resignation and left my role as manager of a cleaning company in Brussels.
How did you find the right business?
I started by searching online, talking to friends, and reaching out to my network. Just a few months later, in September 2019, I came across a listing from BestValue about a business for sale in a sector I already knew: hiking tourism in the Ardennes. It was Europ’Aventure, and I was instantly interested!
What was BestValue’s role in the process?
BestValue connected me with the owner, and our first meeting was open, constructive, and promising. Over the following months, Romain Simar from BestValue played a key role: as mediator, facilitator, and objective advisor.
His support helped me better understand how the company worked, its strengths and areas for improvement, and how to build a takeover and development plan. The project was a great match for my skills and ambitions, and the business had a solid, positive foundation.
Where are you now?
BestValue supported me through to the signing of the transfer agreement at the end of November 2019. Since then, I’ve officially been running my own business. The previous owner stayed on for a few months, which made the transition smooth. Everything was falling into place… until COVID-19 hit, and all trips were cancelled from March to June. It was a tough time. But I learned that being your boss means dealing with both the highs and the lows. I used the time to prepare for the future, and as soon as tourism restarted, demand exploded. Despite the challenges, I have no regrets. I’m proud of the path I’ve taken and grateful for the guidance I received from Romain and the entire BestValue team.
Thank you!
