Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's usually a x-year non-compete agreement when this happens... I know a guy that does exactly what you describe, starting a new garbage pickup service every 3 years, when the agreement elapses. He then works for ~3-4 years to build it back up. Sold twice already, and on his third.
Laundromat -> liquor store -> hotel -> retire rich is a common path here. Rinse and repeat a couple times at each point, and because you sell each time to the guy trying to do the same thing behind you instead of to a big competitor, there's never non-compete agreements. Bonus in that the first two are recession proof and cash heavy businesses (if you wish to avail yourself of the possibilities that suggests).
Anecdotally, work from home put a crimp in many laundromat businesses. And liquor stores only work in states that do not let the big stores sell liquor. These days, any half decent hotel brand will require a couple million cash (for the down payment), and more for a new build. At least in the western US.