Buy a Business Library

An attorney sits at a desk ready to help with an acquisition.

The Right Attorney for Your Acquisition

Buying a business? It’s a must to include an attorney on your team, especially as you work through the complex …

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How to Connect with the Owner of Your Target Business

Your research, conversations with key industry players, and searches on business listing sites should help you find some high-potential businesses …

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A person with a clipboard reviews the actions they plan to take as the new owner of a business

Post-Transition: The Actions You Need to Take As the New Owner of a Business

You’ve spent months searching for a business to buy, pouring through financials, negotiating offers, and navigating financing. Now you’ve closed …

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An accountant is sitting at a desk, prepared to help with an acquisition

The Right Accountant for Your Acquisition

A knowledgeable business accountant is a must for any small business acquisition—and for all the work that follows. Here’s why: …

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A business owner and an attorney sit at a desk discussing the letter of intent they drafted

Why You Need a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Purchase a Business

When you find a business you’d like to purchase, your attorney will draft a letter of intent (LOI) to indicate …

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A person sitting at a desk reflects on the pros and cons of buying a business

The Pros and Cons of Buying an Established Business

Before you decide whether buying a business is the right path for you, take some time to learn about the …

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A person at a desk is looking at his computer screen to learn about the fundamentals of buying a business

The Fundamentals of Buying a Business

Wondering how to buy a business? Many people do, especially when they see the benefits others have achieved by taking …

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A person talks on the phone to find businesses for sale

How to Find Businesses That Are for Sale

Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of buying a small business, and you’ve even decided which kinds of operations you …

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A new restaurant kitchen that is financed through asset-backed financing

Why Choose Asset-Backed Financing?

There are many ways to finance a business. One that few business owners consider is asset-backed financing. Many banks and …

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A person shakes hands to buy a business.

Consider Using an SBA Loan to Buy a Business

SBA loans are one of the most commonly used ways to finance the purchase of a business. Named after the …

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A person in front of a work van chose to buy a business that's enduringly profitable

Smart Play: Buy a Low-Risk, High-Margin Business in a Growing Industry

If want to buy a business, then you’ve probably thought about operating one that’s novel, trendy, or exciting—one that’ll impress …

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A person at a desk smiles as he works through the steps he needs to take to set up an entity to buy a business.

Pro Tip: Set Up an Entity Before Buying a Business

When most people set out to “buy a business,” what they’re really doing is buying a company’s assets. Many are …

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A prospective buyer sits facing a seller, attempting to negotiate to buy a business

How to Negotiate to Buy a Business

Once you’ve found a business that meets your criteria and you’ve vetted it with your accountant and attorney, you’ll start …

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Two prospective buyers negotiate a lease to buy arrangement with a seller

Lease-to-Buy: Could It Work for Your Acquisition?

There are lots of ways to finance a business acquisition. Few prospective business owners consider lease-to-buy, an option that can …

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A business buyer connects with two business owners to buy a business that's not for sale

Buy a Business That Is Not for Sale

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to buy a business instead of starting one from scratch, you likely know …

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A store owner turns an open sign for her grand reopening celebration.

Grand Reopening: Create the Hype You Need to Make Your First Day a Success

Closing on your new business is a major achievement. Celebrate it by planning a grand reopening event that reintroduces your …

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Two people bump fists as they work through a seller financing arrangement

Why Seller Financing Can Be a Great Source of Capital

Seller financing is often a great option for buying a business. Let’s dive into what it is and why it …

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A person holds a pen and a magnifying glass to evaluate a business for acquisition

Preliminary Due Diligence: How to Evaluate a Business Before Buying It

It can be exciting to find a small business that meets your criteria for acquisition. But do you know how …

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A person sitting at a desk looks through documents as he considers buying a distressed business.

Is a Distressed Business a Good Opportunity?

Distressed businesses exist in every industry. Some can be great opportunities, especially when they’re purchased for a low price and …

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A person sitting in a creative office smiles while thinking about how to raise capital

Your Go-to Guide for Financing an Acquisition

Have you thought about taking out a loan to buy a business? Many owners do. There are lots of loan …

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A person faces arrows pointing in multiple directions, representing the paths he could take to become a business owner

Which Path to Entrepreneurship Is Right for You?

Wondering how to become a business owner? There’s more than one way to reach this goal. In this article, we’ll …

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A pen lays atop a financial document used for evaluating the asking price of a business.

Evaluate the Asking Price of a Business

Two of the most difficult parts of buying a business are learning to evaluate the asking price and proposing a …

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Two businesspeople look at charts they might compile in their business plan to buy a business.

Develop a Business Plan That’ll Help You Attain Financing

When you apply for an SBA loan, a term loan, or seller financing to buy a business you’ll need to …

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A banker points to paperwork for one of the loans he can offer for a business acquisition.

Loans to Consider to Buy a Business

Loans are one of the most common sources of capital owners use to buy a business. Many banks offer three …

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A person at a computer works through important steps before buying a business

Pre-acquisition Action Items: Steps You Must Take Before Buying a Business

Buying a business is a complex process. One of the smartest moves you can make is to spend time studying …

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Two people with a computer work through the steps to evaluate a business for sale.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Evaluate a Business Listing

Businesses listed on business brokerage sites often follow a specific format. It can be great to have this consistency—and benefit from …

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Two people sign a document agreeing to a seller earnout

Smart Play: Offering the Seller an Earnout

Some businesses look risky to buy. Owners make promises that can’t be verified, or they make projections that seem too …

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Two professionals attempt to renegotiate a purchase.

How to Renegotiate a Purchase with the Seller

Due diligence is one of the most important tasks you’ll take on when buying a business. Through the process, you’ll …

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A person sits at a desk with an open portfolio wondering about the mistakes he might make when buying a business

The Mistakes You Must Avoid When Buying a Business

From overlooking key issues to making missteps in negotiations, most first-time business buyers make mistakes when buying a business. In …

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A man and a woman standing in an office partner to buy a business.

Find a Partner to Buy a Business

Thinking of finding a partner to buy a business with? There are lots of reasons to choose this option. Partners …

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A person at a computer considers using his 401(k) for financing his new business.

How to Use 401k Financing for Your Business Acquisition

There are lots of ways to access the funding you need to finance a business acquisition. But if the idea …

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An attorney and a business buyer review documents to complete due diligence before completing an acquisition

Due Diligence for Buying a Business

In the due diligence process, you’ll review the ins and outs of the business you intend to buy. You’ll gather …

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A person hands a key to two business buyers who are ready to take ownership of a small business

Close the Deal: The 11 Things You Need to Take Ownership of a Small Business

A great deal of work goes into finding a small business to buy. Once you’ve found one, completed the due …

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A person reads a document to review the terms of a sales agreement

The Terms of Your Sales Agreement to Buy a Business

After you’ve sourced a business, evaluated its viability, and negotiated its terms, your attorney will draft a sales agreement that …

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