How-To

Most business owners approach selling a business much like my son approaches his homework – they avoid thinking about it until they absolutely have to. It’s understandable. For many owners, their business is their baby, their employees are their family, and they enjoy the challenge and sense of purpose derived from their work. That said, […]

  Business Purchase Agreement & Closing Depending on the complexity and size of the transaction, a business purchase agreement template can be very simple or very complex. While a simple transfer of a digital asset may only require a bill of sale, the acquisition of an income-producing business is typically accompanied by an Asset Purchase Agreement […]

    Acquisition Financing  How you choose to fund your business acquisition could set you up for success or be a drag on your bottom line. While nearly half of business purchases are made in cash, looking to leverage your purchase with another funding source or two might give you a better return on your investment. […]

  Due Diligence and Pro-forma Financials Once a letter of intent or similar document has been signed, the next steps are for the buyer to conduct a more formal due diligence and to develop pro forma financials. The main goals of due diligence are to confirm that the target company is in fact as presented, […]

  Deal Structure After identifying a business to buy and completing your initial research, the next step is to make a business offer. The deal structure will then follow. Remember, your goal is not to convince the seller of your viewpoint, but as a buyer, to identify a proposal that works for both parties. As […]

  Analyzing a Business to Buy: Pre-Offer Analysis and Business Valuation Before sharing details on a business, most brokers and sellers will ask that you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). You should not need to put money in escrow in order to get basic information on the business. As part of your pre-offer analysis, some […]