Information For Buyers
Are you planning on having your own business?
Buying your business can be a complicated procedure. Throughout the buying process, it's important to keep an open mind while searching for a business that will fit your needs, talents, skills and lifestyle. A business broker has many different types of businesses for you to consider; however, you need to remember that there is no such thing as that "perfect" business. Another vital thing to keep in mind is that at some point you must be able to make the "leap of faith" that separates you from being a "looker" to a "doer." This isn't easy, but it must happen if you are ever going to be in business for yourself.

Following are some of the most common topics and questions frequently brought up by buyers. If you have any questions that we have not covered, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Buyer Introduction
Going into business for yourself is a big step, one that can be full of apprehension and even fear. Almost 90 percent of all those who purchase a small business have never owned a business. Most of them bought a business that was different than what they had been looking for. These buyers had the opportunity to explore the marketplace and subsequently found a business more to their liking. In most cases, the seller financed the sale.

As you begin your search, keep in mind that running your own business is more than a job; it is a lifestyle change. In most cases, it is a very big lifestyle change. Usually, you will be working longer hours, making all of the decisions, and, as the expression goes, "you will be the chief cook and bottle washer." In other words, you will be doing all of the work from running the business to, in many cases, sweeping the floor and changing the light bulbs.

What To Look For
1. How long the business has been in business.
A business with a long track record means there are usually good reasons why it has continued to operate. It will be well known in the area, and people will be used to patronizing the business or using its services. The longer it has been in operation, generally, the better the business.

2. How long the present owner has owned the business.
The longer the present owner has been in business, the more likely he or she has been successful. People don't stay in business if they are not making money.

3. Why the present owner is selling.
If the owner has been in business for six months, is 37 years old, and wants to retire, you should be suspicious. The more valid the reason for sale, the more realistic the seller will be in considering your offer. However, keep in mind that after five or six years or more, people do get restless, "burn-out" sets in, and people look for new challenges. Why the seller is selling is an important question: get the answer.

4. Why books and records are important.
The financial records are a good indication of how well the business has been doing over the years. Keep in mind that tax records are not designed to show the business in the best light: no one likes to pay more taxes than they have to, and owners of businesses are no different. Generally, tax returns are a worst case scenario. You need to be able to look at the expenses and discover which ones are non-cash items, such as depreciation, and business use of home and vehicles. How important was the business trip to Las Vegas? A professional business broker can point these items out to you. When in doubt, however, seek outside assistance.

Keep in mind that financial records are only history. There are no guarantees that they will or can be duplicated or repeated. All of your profits are future. In the final analysis, the financial records of the business are an indicator of what the business has done; what you do with its future is up to you.

5. How to determine if the seller is reporting all income.
The simple answer is - that you can't. Not reporting income is against the law. You should consider only the income that the seller can show you. We all know, of course, especially in cash type businesses, that there is the possibility that the seller is not reporting all of his or her income for tax purposes. This "underground economy" has been well-documented and is in the billions of dollars. Many sellers will tell you about how much they are "skimming," but you should ignore their statements, since they have no way of proving these amounts. In determining whether a business is the right one for you, you should base the decision on the figures actually supplied to you by the seller.

The Bottom Line
Being in business for yourself can be a daunting prospect. There are no guarantees. At some point, after all of your investigation is completed, you will still have to make that "leap of faith" that is necessary to proceed with the purchase of the business. You will have to work hard, perhaps even "tighten your belt" a little and perform many different jobs to be successful in your own business. But, if running your own show, making your own decisions, not having to worry about job security (remember, no one can fire you from your own business), and just being on your own are important - then owning a business is for you. After taking this leap of faith, almost all business owners will tell you that they would never go back to being an employee.

Looking At The Numbers
Unfortunately, too many prospective buyers want to know the asking price first and then ask how much money they can make. These are the wrong questions to ask initially. You need to know how much cash the seller requires as a down payment. No matter how good the numbers are there is no point in looking at a business if the seller wants three times as much cash as you are willing to invest. Remember, the actual amount of money a business earns is usually much more than just the bottom line. A smart approach is to get more information on the business, and even make a visit, before ruling it out or getting too involved in the numbers. It's all part of the learning process.

The Buying Process
One of the most common questions asked by those who have never purchased a business is how do you actually buy a business. There is no right or wrong way to buy a business. However, it is important that you get answers to all of your questions and that you have all the information necessary to make an informed decision. Here are some of the steps that we take at Business Brokerage Services that have proven over the years to be the most efficient and practical:

Get the Basic Facts
Get preliminary information on price, terms, income, cash flow, and general location. There is no point in continuing the buying process if the amount of cash necessary to buy the business is more than you are willing to invest. At this point, don't worry about the full price. It's important, but the key factor is the amount of cash that is necessary to buy the business. There is very little outside financing available such as banks, etc., for those who are purchasing businesses. The great majority of business purchases are financed by the seller. This is why the amount you are willing to invest is a key issue.

Also, the business has to be able to meet your basic financial needs. You always expect a business to improve under your ownership, but you have to be able to meet your living expenses as well as meet the debt service of the business. It is also important to remember that almost all purchase prices and down payments are negotiable.

Visit the Business
Visit the business to see if you like the location and the looks of the business itself both inside and outside. This is a visual inspection. There is no point in going any further if you don't like the physical location of the business or the appearance of it.

Get Questions Answered
If you like the business so far, it's time to get your questions answered. For example: What is the rent? How long is the lease? What have been the sales for the past few years? Can the seller support the figures you have been told? This is the time to get those questions answered that have a bearing on whether you may want to own and operate this particular business.

Make an Offer
If you now have your basic questions answered and you want to proceed with purchasing this business, it is time to make an offer, subject, of course, to verification of all the information you have received. The main purpose in making an offer is to see if the seller will accept your terms, price, and structure of the sale itself.

Due Diligence
At this point, you hopefully have arrived at a meeting of minds with the seller, and you are ready to begin removing the contingencies, performing what is commonly called due diligence.