Inspired by Baton’s owner success stories, here’s how Erik and Kass Hansen successfully sold Greenway Painting with Baton’s expert guidance and hands-on support—allowing them to maximize their business’s value and step into their next chapter with peace of mind.

About the Business

• Industry: Building & Construction - Painting Contractor

• Revenue: $1.8M

• Location: Jackson, Wyoming

• Size: Owner-operated small business

Press Play for Proof

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHeJ1OETHg

Reading the full story gives the full context and insights we couldn’t fit into the video.

The Challenge: Burnout, Uncertainty, and the Question of What’s Nex

Greenway Painting began as a father–son operation, with Erik painting alongside his dad across the West Coast. Armed with strong people skills and a trade he knew inside and out, Erik spotted an opportunity and took a leap, opening a painting business in Jackson, Wyoming. Building a company in a small town wasn’t easy, but through grit and persistence, Greenway Painting grew into a legitimate, trusted local brand.

Years of 24/7 ownership began to take its toll. Burnout set in, and priorities shifted, especially the desire to move to Arizona to be closer to Erik’s dad. Still, the business demanded constant presence.

Neither Erik nor his partner Kass had ever sold a business before. They didn’t know what Greenway Painting was worth, whether anyone would even want it, or how painful the process might be. 

Walking away felt wrong, but the fear of being dragged through a difficult sale made the idea of selling just as daunting. They wanted to pass on what they had built. They just didn’t know how.

The Solution: From “Hello” to Close with Baton

Erik and Kass already had a full-time job, and selling the business didn’t need to become another one. When they connected with Baton, they realized they had found a team they could trust: experts who would guide them step by step and take the weight off their shoulders.

“Reid was so supportive. I was able to text him if I had any questions any day and any time, really. He was always there for us—he really came through.

Throughout the journey, Baton handled the heavy lifting at every step:

1. Clear, Defensible Valuation Before Going to Market: Baton’s free, no-commitment valuation made it an easy first step. For the first time, Erik and Kass had real clarity on what their business was worth—backed by market data, comparable transactions, and normalized financials.

2. Buyer Outreach, Filtering, and Offer Support: Even as first-time sellers, the process felt manageable. Baton’s seller dashboard replaced email chaos with a single place to organize documents, track buyer activity, review offers, and follow diligence milestones—no spreadsheets or scattered threads required.

3. Offer Selection and Negotiation Support: Baton handled outreach while helping Erik and Kass evaluate offers and tradeoffs with confidence. Ongoing communication and transparency ensured they always knew where things stood and what decisions were coming next, allowing them to maintain leverage throughout the process.

4. Diligence and Closing Support When it Mattered Most: When discrepancies surfaced, their advisor stepped in immediately. Financials—one of their biggest concerns—were cleaned, normalized, and clearly explained upfront. And when their lawyer went dark, Baton quickly connected them with a new one without delaying the deal.

The Results

The result was a successful sale that brought real relief.

“What changed for me personally was immediate relief off of my shoulders. Knowing that our brand is living on, but we get to step back, is so valuable.”

Through Baton’s attention to detail, consistent communication, and hands-on guidance, Erik and Kass were able to achieve an outcome that once felt out of reach:

• Baton filtered buyer inquiries and introduced only qualified, high intent buyers, leading to four strong offers

• Closing the transaction at $1.85M

• Confidence their business legacy would continue under the right ownership
  

“I’d recommend Baton for anyone that doesn’t have experience in selling a business—not knowing where to start. Baton takes the reins and supports you the entire time. ” 

What’s next for Erik and Kass?

With the sale behind them, Erik and Kass are settling into a new rhythm, spending winters in Arizona closer to family. Looking back, they have a few lessons to share with other owners considering a sale.

Advice and Lessons for Future Sellers

1. “Make sure your books are in line. You want all of your financials ready to send.”

2. “Just trust the process. There are ups and downs, but it’ll happen!”

3. “What surprised me most about the potential buyers was that they thought they could run a local paint company from out of state. It seems like a lot of people are looking for a business they can run remotely.”