If you are buying a business and plan to obtain financing from a lending institution, these five tips provided by Adeline Rem, Regional Vice President of Celtic Bank, will be helpful in getting your loan approved. 1. Capacity The capacity of the borrower to repay is the most critical of the five factors. The prospective […]
Texas has long been the hot bed of restaurant activity in the U.S. With roughly $35 billion in sales expected in 2009, the restaurant industry in Texas is anticipated to be the leader in the restaurant sector in growth, according to the National Restaurant Organization, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. The $35 billion […]
With negative economic news grabbing the headlines, business owners are inclined to believe that it is not a good time to sell their company and that they will have to put their retirement plans on hold. While this rationale makes sense for some, waiting for better economic times does not necessarily equate to a higher […]
The Financial Times recently named Texas the No. 1 state economy in the nation in a study measuring the impact of the current financial downturn on the 50 U.S. states. Thanks to high rankings in four separate economic indicators: employment growth rate, state product growth rate (GSP), personal income growth rate and home foreclosure rate, […]
The Small Business Administration today announced their support of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Treasury Department to improve the TALF Program, which will help unclog the secondary market for asset-backed securities, including SBA 7(a) backed loans which is the vehicle used for small business acquisitions. “We are pleased that terms for […]
Dragging economy revs up auto shops ———————————————————————————- Certified Business Brokers, Houston, closed the deal between Buyer, Tariq Aziz, and Seller, Wayne Ray, of Mr. Transmission, on February 27, 2009. ———————————————————————————- Published February 27, 2009 — Houston Business Journal – by Allison Wollam Tariq Aziz owned a health care software services company for 14 years. He […]
While the economy is expected to remain weak throughout 2009, there will continue to be plenty of opportunities for individuals and businesses in a position to buy, according to a recently released survey. The report, published by the International Business Brokers Association, found that 61 percent of the survey participants, professionals involved in selling businesses, […]
Houston registered the nation’s biggest gain is private-sector employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released today. As a matter of fact, Houston has been the pace setter for employment for the last couple of years. The Houston area added 42,400 private-sector jobs between November 2007 and November 2008, almost three times the gain of […]
Private Equity Groups have excess capital to invest and are looking for business acquisitions. One of the major market shifts for the acquisition of privately-held companies has been the growth in the number of Private Equity Groups (PEGs) over the last decade, they number in the thousands. PEGs have become key players in business acquisitions. […]
With negative economic news grabbing the headlines in the United States, business owners may think it is not a good time to sell their company. But fortunately for owners looking to sell, that is not necessarily true. Business sales are still taking place with sellers capturing attractive prices and favorable terms, when the deal is […]
There are more than 15 million family businesses in the United States, ranging from giants like Wrigley and Marriott to the local corner grocery store. Yet, history tells us that less than one-third of family owned companies will make it to a second generation. One reason for the disheartening statistic may be that business owners […]
Despite the current credit crunch, well capitalized community banks still have money to lend for business acquisitions. The SBA 7(a) loan program is an excellent way for both bank and borrower to tread through this troubled business environment. While many large financial institutions are licking their wounds from the mortgage mess and the credit market […]
Selling a business and walking away can be very difficult. But in many cases, as part of the sale, there’s a transition period that can be as short as a month or as long as a year or two, depending on the size of the company and the role of the owner. In most situations, […]
Acquiring a business is a team effort and finding the right business broker (intermediary) is just the start of building your squad. Here’s a very common question posed by prospective buyers: “I’m ready to purchase a business that’s currently available for approximately $1.1 million. I feel I need a person who can help me with […]
When it comes time to sell your business, knowing how to enhance its value and PLANNING AHEAD are key to doing it ON YOUR TERMS. Selling a business can be complicated and very time consuming. Since the average business sale transaction takes anywhere from FOUR TO TWELVE MONTHS, business owners need to be in the right frame of […]
Keynote speaker at the recent International Business Broker Association last week in Denver, Jerry Osteryoung, Executive Director of Global Entrepreneurship at FSU, was kind enough to allow this reprint of his report concerning the future economic changes that will be necessary in our society and the way we do business in order to cope with […]
When preparing for any invasive procedure, you would want to first address the issues that are the most crucial when deciding if further exploratory examination is warranted. Therefore, every person looking for a business to buy should ask key questions that will cut right to the chase in order to decide if a particular business […]
Buying a business takes time and planning. Just as it would be sensible to pre-map a road trip through unfamiliar territory, it would be practical for a first-time buyer to develop a plan to navigate the path to business ownership. Charting the route is key to buying a business and becoming your own boss. If […]
The current status of the small business marketplace in Houston is dynamic. Buyers in every category are plentiful, our economic position is one of the top in the nation, business policies are in place for continued prosperity and growth, interest rates are at historic lows, and capital is available for business acquisitions. Fueling the Houston […]
Despite a sluggish economy in the U.S., Houston is still displaying its buccaneering spirit. While the oil boom is a large part of the Bayou City’s good fortune, it is not the only gusher pouring out prosperity. A diversified business base is the fuel that powers Houston’s shining-star status. Newsweek published an article this weekend titled, Houston, […]
And the city is still building—it’s not finished yet. Houston is a young city—compared to most others its size. It’s a young city in the median age of its population—still in the 30s. But Houston does have its history, its traditions, its heritage—and Houstonians are proud of this and do not forget their city’s glorious […]
Keeping the Process Moving and Keeping the Deal on Track helps Seal the Pact. Many factors can bog down the sale of a business. In fact, more than purchase price or structure, time is the most likely reason that a business sale may fail. Time can breed frustration and fatigue. As a potential sale drags […]
The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH), as part of their Small Business Success Series, will be hosting a moderated dinner event at Bombay Brasserie Restaurant in Houston, Texas, on June 24, 2008. Tara Energy, headquartered in Houston and one of the largest independent retail electricity providers in Texas, is sponsoring the event. […]
Buying a business in today’s economic climate requires that buyers be on the ball. The current economic climate, as far as business acquisitions are concerned, is a sellers market. With corporate downsizing, economic downturn and other factors, there are a lot of very knowledgeable buyers out there looking for one of the very few good […]
“I have a medium sized company which I have owned for about 20 years. We specialize in the manufacture and distribution of chemical products and have built a good business over the years. However, none of my children is involved or interested in the business so I am considering selling it. The problem is that […]
The International Business Brokers Association (IBBA®) is having its 47th Semi-Annual Conference this month, June 1 -7, in Denver. The IBBA®, established in 1983, is the largest international non-profit association operating exclusively for the benefit of professionals and firms engaged in the various aspects of business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions. The association represents professional, […]
May 27, 2008 (New York Times) A Crippling Year For Small Business: Few Sales, Tough Cash Flow Small businesses think the economy is falling apart with little light at the end of the tunnel. The Discover’s Small Business Watch index of confidence showed that “only 28 percent of business owners said that economic conditions were […]
The new 2020 Fortune 500 list of annual rankings of America’s largest corporations is out. Houston is called home by the 3rd largest number of the companies on the list, second only to New York City. Houston has been steadily adding to its collection of Fortune 500’s for the past several years, while New York’s number has […]
If you are like most business owners, you have thought about selling your business a time or two. It’s perfectly normal to dream and wonder what it would be like to be free of all the trappings, headaches, and burdens of running your company. You probably also wonder how cumbersome the sale process might be […]
Extension of SBA Recovery Lending Programs Will Support $1.8 Billion in Small Business Lending Agency plans to restart Recovery loan approvals on March 10 WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed legislation Tuesday extending until March 28 the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ability to provide small business loans that are enhanced with special provisions of the […]
There are three major negotiation methods to bring a buyer and seller together in the business sale process. Keep in mind that negotiating means working with each other, not against each other, towards bridging the gap between the two sides. 1. Take it or Leave it A buyer makes an offer or a seller makes […]
Setting goals and achieving them are so important in every aspect of business, but many businesspeople and entrepreneurs do not pay enough attention to the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Gap analysis is the process of looking at the difference between your goal and where you currently are. Typically, […]
You’ve made the big decision to put your business on the market. Your reasons for selling are valid, carefully-considered, and “good” – the kind that won’t make a prospective buyer shy away. Now, you may tell yourself, comes the fun part. You’ll come up with a price – maybe a little high, but why not? […]
As markets continue to stabilize, 45% of CEOs interviewed for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers’ Private Company Trendsetter Barometer survey are optimistic about the US economy over the next 12 months (up two points from the previous quarter), and 47% who market abroad are optimistic about the world economy. Additionally, an increasing number plan to raise operational spending over […]
More small businesses in Houston were sold in 2009 than in any other city in the U.S. Why? Because buyers are positioning themselves for the future. We have been bragging about Houston’s economy and the engine behind it for a long time. Pick your industry, we’ve touted it. Houston Business Journal last week reported, “Houston-area […]