Buy a business

A key advantage to buying a business rather than starting one from scratch is that an acquisition allows you to skip the expensive—and risky—start-up stage.

• The pros and cons of buying a business
• Baby boomer retirements are a boon for potential business buyers
• Business acquisitions: 4 essential questions you need to ask yourself
• Five mistakes to avoid when buying a business
• What to look for when buying an existing business
• Partners breathe new life into businesses with growth potential
• Never satisfied: Why this serial entrepreneur decided to start all over again

Finding a business for sale isn’t as simple as looking for a for-sale sign in the window. Instead, most entrepreneurs looking to sell their business are waiting patiently for the right buyer to come knocking.

• How to find a business to buy with the help of a broker
• How to find the right company to buy
• How to value a business you’d like to acquire
• Tips on finding a business for sale
• Finding the right target for an acquisition

Once you’ve found a target, you should do in-depth research to ensure you understand what you’re purchasing and make sure you’re not overpaying.

• 3 steps to establish the value of a potential business acquisition
• 2 ways to calculate the value of a business
• From our blog—Value vs. price: Understanding the difference when buying or selling a business

Because buying a business will involve investing a fair amount of money and time, it is critical to do your homework when gathering information about the business, and to develop a solid acquisition strategy.

• How vendor financing can help your acquisition
• What type of business should I buy?
• The steps you need to take BEFORE buying a business
• 4 steps to doing due diligence when buying a business
• 5 things you need to know when financing a franchise purchase
• Management buyouts: Points to consider and ways to finance them
• How a minority investor can help you buy a business
• Starting a business with poor personal credit: 3 tips to secure financing
• From our blog—Buying a business? 4 critical questions to ask before negotiating the price
• Buying a business: How to prepare for the unexpected
• From our blog—The impact of the financing package on the sustainability of operations after a business transfer
• A transition in translation: Buying a business as a new immigrant
• Cheese entrepreneurs reap tasty growth from well-planned acquisition
• Letter of intent and confidentiality agreement for a business acquisition: What clauses should be included?
• Buying a business: Major pitfalls to avoid when negotiating a purchase agreement
• How banks value a business when financing an acquisition
• Whose advice should you seek when buying a business?
• What are the steps to buying a business?

Access to start-up financing is essential for most new businesses, but for many entrepreneurs just starting out, their biggest challenge is getting adequate financing.

• Buying a business? How to protect yourself from potential liabilities
• After buying a business, what is the next step?
• An entrepreneur’s road to success after buying a business
• Organizational culture: How does it affect a business acquisition