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How’d you like to have $34 million?

Yes - you say? Where do I sign, you say?

It’s quite easy. Let’s say your name is Rafael David - many years ago you sat down and started a little itty bitty website called creditcardguide.com. Your site offered reviews for credit cards, similar to creditcardbest.com which we spoke about in an earlier post. You were paid by advertisers as well as direct by credit cards. Millions of people flocked to your site. Eventually you started doing it full-time. It was a lot of work trying to keep updated with all the new credit card options. But you kept your nose to the grindstone and worked very hard in keeping consumers informed of what the best credit card decision is for them. You thought about what could make the consumer happy - and you provided it.

And then one day, along comes knocking a little company called bankrate.com. And they say “Hey Rafael. We like your website. Can we buy it from you? You just have to stay with us for a little while so that we can learn how you run it.” And then the next day, there’s $34 million in your bank account. You smile, give some to charity, and then buy a nice condominium on Miami Beach.

Reality check, my fellow readers. This really does happen. Work hard and offer a service that people will need or use. One - you’ll benefit by the regular cash flow you’re generating for yourself, and then one day you may actually get purchased by a much larger company. Although many entrepreneurs would never want to sell their baby, it doesn’t hurt to have the choice. Not every idea hits big - this guy Rafael David probably has twelve websites going. But all it takes is one to be successful. The news article is below. JUST DO IT.

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NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Online banking company Bankrate Inc. said Thursday it has bought LinkSpectrum Co.’s assets, which consist mainly of its CreditCardGuide.com Web site, for $32 million in cash plus about $2 million for the company’s working capital.

Bankrate said it will also pay up to an another $10 million in cash in potential earn-outs based on financial achievements.

CreditCardGuide.com lets customers compare and apply for credit cards online.

“Adding more direct, high-quality traffic to our credit card business will grow our revenue and improve the margins in this important category,” said Thomas R. Evans, president and chief executive of Bankrate, in a statement.

Rafael David, the founder of CreditCardGuide.com., is the only full-time employee of the company and will be working with Bankrate through a transition period.

Bankrate’s shares rose $1.16, or 3.2 percent, to close at $37.45.