Also as mentioned above I like the “stealing customers” advice!
That’s business but, it works both ways…
Could there be a third option, what about if they buy you out and then employ you?
Technically that’s what they’d be doing anyway.
<devil’s advocate> are they taking you on for you or for your client list?
The former – I guess they know your abilities and what you could offer their business long term. The latter – they want your contacts, know your position, make you an offer, make the hay with your contacts, make you redundant?
That said – sounds like you’re happy with the salary offer so, when did your business last pay you that / when might it pay you that?
Would taking the paid role lighten your mental load enough / put funds in the bank to give you the option to really think through your ‘bike shop’ idea, as mentioned on a earlier thread?
You mentioned building frames – if that really would give you pleasure then maybe building frames could be something you do on the the side – it’s not interfering with you day job? It might build into something, then again it might just it might earn ‘holiday money’?