Updated: October 2026 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 seller’s market for high-quality businesses. With corporate downsizing, economic downturn and other factors, there are a lot of very knowledgeable buyers out there looking for […]
Updated October 2026 In this article: Prior to discussing confidential information about businesses for sale, business brokers require prospective buyers to complete certain forms that serve two purposes. They protect the interests of the business owners during the sale process and enable a business broker to competently assist buyers in their acquisition search. These documents […]
Updated October 2026 In this article: Having a formula and understanding the fundamentals of successful negotiation can help you make the best deal possible and avoid lost opportunities. Negotiation may seem a daunting task, but when handled in a balanced manner, negotiation can be a positive experience rather than a negative one. The negotiation strategy […]
Updated September 2026 In this article: In any economic climate, finding the right buyer for your business can be a challenge. Preparation is critical to your success, and when you’re courting buyers, things like reliable financial records and well-maintained equipment carry even more weight. Sellers should also keep several other considerations in mind. In this […]
What Are the Advantages of SBA Financing for a Business Purchase? The US Small Business Administration (SBA) enables private lenders to make loans for buying a business that they ordinarily would not be able to make by guaranteeing that a portion of the loan proceeds will be repaid to the lender in the event of […]
Updated August 2026 In this article: When buying a business, both emotion and due diligence are elemental and essential. Here are 10 key matters to consider when you find that magical business for which you’ve been searching. It covers important points that are sometimes overlooked when your head is in the clouds during the emotional excitement […]
Updated August 2026 In this article: While being a business owner may in the end not be for everyone, there is no denying the great rewards that come to business owners. So should you buy a business of your own? Let’s take a moment and outline the diverse benefits of owning a business and help […]
When it comes to finalizing deals, successful negotiations are at the heart of the matter. It only makes sense to think about how to improve your communication skills and to choose a Business Broker or M&A Advisor who is well versed in the art of negotiation. Cultivating Win-Win Situations Achieving a win-win for all parties […]
Most people think of starting a business from scratch, developing an idea, building a company from the ground up. Starting from scratch, however, has its disadvantages including – developing a customer base, marketing the business, hiring employees and creating cash flow … without any history or reputation to rely on. To avoid these challenges, buying […]
Are you thinking about taking the leap of faith into being part of the self-employed — into business ownership? If you are one of those people who have long yearned to be self-employed, to call your own shots and design your own destiny, you must break through all those yeah-buts that have been stopping you. […]
It can be difficult to determine which kinds of insurance is needed for a small business. Different types of insurance have confusingly similar names. Your state, town, or county may have its own insurance requirements and many industries have coverage specific to them. To assist in determining which kind of insurance a business should have, […]
Due Diligence is the last phase in the buying process. This is the time when you will have access to all of the company’s books, records and files. You will have a pre-determined period of time to investigate the information that you have been given so far to verify its accuracy. The goal of an […]
THE SUCCESSFUL CLOSING Now that all of the contingencies have been satisfied and removed from the Contract, it’s time to draft the final closing documents. These documents may be prepared by the Seller’s attorney, Buyer’s attorney or a third party attorney employed by the business broker. The basic documents associated with the transfer of a small business generally […]
6 Steps in the Buying Process Step 1: Self Assessment When you meet with a Business Broker, be prepared to discuss your background, work experience and financial ability to purchase a business. A Business Broker cannot adequately help you find a company that meets your needs without this knowledge. A personal resume and financial statement […]
Closing the deal can be the most challenging part of buying or selling an operating business. Valuations, investigations, and negotiations are complete and now it’s a matter of getting everything into writing in a form that satisfies everyone so that the transfer of ownership of the business can take place. However, you can definitely count on someone […]
The following serves as an excellent checklist for a Buyer in compiling questions to ask the Seller about his business during the Due Diligence period. Potential Problem Areas to be Addressed Changes in law, New competition, Change in technology Foreign imports, Drop in demand, Equipment obsolescence Facility obsolescence, Market shifts, Down trends Employee theft, Interest […]
Investment groups and baby boomer corporate executives looking to get into action with companies of their own are making small businesses hot prospects these days. Buyers have money to spend and are turning more frequently to the local landscaping company or delivery company as good investments. There’s no question that Houston-area small businesses are becoming more frequent […]
Something interesting happened at the bank yesterday. Sadly, it wasn’t that I noticed an extra $100,000 in my account. I was at the teller window and the young guy next to me was probably in his mid twenties, with his little toddler in tow. He was inquiring about the best way to set up regular […]
Do you buy the stock of the company or the assets? This is a very important decision. If a business is set up as a corporation, the owner may want to sell you the shares of the business. This is called a stock sale. Sellers like this type of deal because their profits get taxed […]
Should you be the architect of a new business and start from scratch, buy a new franchise, or buy an established existing business? Every year, thousands of people consider going into business for themselves and these are the three routes to get there. Each course has advantages and disadvantages that one should consider. Starting your […]
10 Reasons to Buy an Existing Business Instead of Starting One (1) The success rate for existing businesses purchased is significantly higher than the success rate for a new business startup. Statistics indicate a 90% failure rate for new business ventures within five years, while business brokers report that 70% of businesses they sold are […]
If you want to be successful in making a business acquisition, you want to work with a brokerage firm with a large inventory of businesses for sale and an experienced staff of professionals who are focused ONLY on selling businesses and have the training and experience to successfully close the deal. While most first-time buyers may initially […]
Get Reviewed and Prequalified For Financing So You Can Leverage Your Business Purchase. Getting prequalified for financing by lenders is very important for two specific reasons. 1) 90% of all small businesses sold have some form of financing involved. 2) One of the biggest reasons that deals falls through is because the buyer could not […]
Last Friday afternoon I was a guest on KSEV Radio AM 700 with host Aubrey Thoede and had the opportunity to discuss a subject that many call-in listeners wanted to learn more about….starting their own franchise. But buying a new franchise is not the best way to go about achieving the “American Dream.” Everyone reads […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Working for someone else, whether it be in a small business or in a large corporation, doesn’t give people that secure, warm fuzzy feeling it did in years past. With the current unemployment rate at almost ten percent and an economy that is not yet stabilized, many find themselves in transition. If you are one […]
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, […]
The first job facing many prospective business owners is rounding up the cash necessary to make the purchase. They may find that banks have made borrowing difficult (or all but impossible), and that even SBA loans have requirements too stringent to meet. One viable option is obtaining financing from the seller; another is to seek […]
The answer is a resounding NO! Confusion and misunderstandings often occur if the soon-to-be new owner takes over or works in the business before closing. In our experience this has never been a winning scenario. There are times when the buyer and seller think it would be a great idea if the buyer began operation […]
No ten-point list can ever hope to supply you with every imaginable consideration when it comes to buying a business. The following factors – listed in no particular order – should be a good jumping-off point, but feel free to expand on them and dig even deeper to decide that the business you plan to […]
Why is self-assessment important? Not only is the acquisition of a business one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, but it is also quite often a major lifestyle change. While there is certainly no requirement that your personal interests conform to your business purchase, a thorough and realistic assessment of your […]