Businesses are bought and sold each day and some make better investments than others. Before you buy a business, here are a few things to make sure you make the right move:
Why is the seller selling? There can be many reasons why a business is for sale, and some reasons are better than others. For example, if the business owner is retiring, that is a good reason, but if the owner is selling because they are not making much of a profit, then that is a negative sign.
Do you know the industry? If you worked for years as a general manager of a restaurant, then this would provide you with a good base of knowledge of how to run a restaurant. The same goes for any other industry.
Due diligence: You should not just take the seller’s word that the business is making a certain amount of money, as the seller should be able to substantiate it with information, such as bank statements and tax returns.
Seek the advice of a professional: Seeking legal, business, and tax advice can pay for itself over and over again. A good attorney will help to work out the legal agreements, while a CPA will help to advise on how to maximize the tax effectiveness of buying the business. I have seen business purchases after-the-fact whereas the new owner loses tens of thousands of dollars of deductions because it was not structured correctly. The agreements can be made so that both parties receive the benefits they are looking for.