YOu are likely going to end up parting it in the end if you do not have a way to sell it to a current employee on a plan that you can be comfortable with.
I don't mean to be rude or condescending about it but you are looking for two distinct types of people.
The first person is you when you started the business. This person has absolutely no concept of how much business contracts are worth. If you have any luck he actually understands how much commercial lawn mowers (and other things you have) are worth and is not comparing your equipment to what he can buy at home depot. He sees no value in contracts and figures he will just go get his own and not have to pay you for them. He wants only the equipment. Chances are he has his own business name picked out and does not even care about taking yours and the value you have built.
You then have your established competitors. For the most part they have enough equipment and do not need yours. They want your contracts, your phone number, maybe even your business name and other IP that you have spent time building. They understand the value of this that the person who is just starting a business do not.
Remember how little you knew when you started (I assume) compared to how much you know now. Recognize them as two seperate people and understand they are not both buying the same thing.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not" - Dr Suess