Another way
For the last 20 years, my husband and I have worked damned hard to retire, or rather create a financial situation we could opt out of full time work, early as we could. It has finally happened.
Last week, we sold the business for enough money to invest in a trust fund of blue chip stocks, government bonds and annuities to provide us with a substantial income for the rest of our lives. We have two grown children, who are making their own way in the world, and when we have gone, they will receive the full benefits of what we have achieved. Right now, we decided they will get a supplement to their incomes, but that is another story.
My husband was originally employed as a safety engineer, then when the company and he disagreed over some fundamental issues, he opened his own practice and built it up to the point where it employed 11 other consultants and a small office staff of twelve. He ran the services side and I ran the office. Worked really well, but there were a lot of problems and difficulties we had to overcome, but that is no different to any other business I suppose.