Finding the money to start your own small business can be a challenge. Over the decades, countless people have turned to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for help. A recent Inc. Magazine article, “Kickstart Your Business Dreams with SBA Lending,” by BizBuySell President, Bob House, explored how SBA lending can be used to the buyer’s advantage. The article covers the basics of an SBA loan and who should try to get one. House notes that the SBA doesn’t provide loans itself, but instead facilitates lending and even micro-lending with a range of partners. The loans are backed by the government, which means that lenders are more willing to offer a loan to an entrepreneur who might not typically qualify for one. The fact is that the SBA will cover 75% of a lender’s loss if the loan goes into default. Entrepreneurs can benefit tremendously from this program. In some cases, an SBA loan even means skipping the need … [Read more...]
Is Seller Financing Right For Your Business Sale?
In BizBuySell’s 2014 nationwide survey of business brokers, nearly half said that over 60 percent of their closed sales included seller financing. Business owners are often reluctant to offer seller financing when it comes time to sell their business. But in our many years of business brokerage, we have seen positive results for both the seller and buyer when seller financing is offered. Often potential buyers don’t have the cash on hand, are reluctant to use all of their capital, or are unable to borrow the money. In these cases, it’s obvious why seller financing would benefit the buyer. But what’s in it for the seller? Sellers often have concerns that buyers will be unsuccessful at running the business. In our experience, a carefully crafted deal with the help of an experienced business broker can offer protection for the seller and other advantages as well. Following are 5 key reasons to consider seller financing. Seller financing shows potential buyers that the seller is … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Buyers of International Businesses
The decision to buy an international business is no doubt quite serious. There are numerous factors that must be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not an international business purchase is the right move. Let's take a closer look. Tip #1 – Relocating Vs. Hiring a Manager Buying an international business can also mean a substantial life change. Before jumping into the process, it is critical that you know whether you will be relocating or hiring a manager to run your newly acquired business. Obviously, owning a business is a substantial responsibility and you'll want to ensure that you know exactly what is going on with your new acquisition. Sometimes that means actually being there. The bottom line is that you will either have to relocate or hire a manager. Tip #2 – Regulations Understanding regulations, taxes and customs are another must for buyers of international businesses. A failure to factor in these elements can literally undo one's business or at the very … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Buying a Business is Preferable to Starting a New One
If you are considering running your own business, one of the first questions that might pop in your mind is: should I start a new one or buy an established business. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the age-old dilemma of buying an existing business verses starting a new one from scratch. 1. An Established Concept The benefits of buying an established business are no doubt huge. At the top of the list is that an existing business will have an established concept. Starting a business from scratch means taking a big risk in the form of a new idea. Will it really work? If the business fails, why did it fail? Both of these stressful questions need not be asked when you buy. An established business, especially one that has been around for years, has already shown that the concept and all the variables that go into it do, in fact, work. 2. Proven Cash Flow Another massive benefit of buying an existing business is that an existing business has proven cash flow. You can look at … [Read more...]