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Buying a business can be one of the riskiest undertakings imaginable. The wrong decision can cost you your money, plus more spent trying to rescue it, not to mention your home, even your marriage. Ask yourself the following questions:
Do I really need to buy a business?
What do I expect from the business?
What can I contribute to the business?
Can I run it as well as, if not better than, the current owner.
You can find businesses in the papers, in for sale magazines, or if you are already in business, you can talk to competitors, suppliers, customers. But the chance that the business you are looking for, in your price range, experience range and area will be for sale at the time you happen to be looking, is slim.
Some reputable business Brokers offer a "Buyer Service", where you can retain the Broker to search for business that fit your parameters. This means that you pay commission instead of the seller, but the Broker is now legally obliged to work FOR you rather than AGAINST you, and most importantly, you have someone with appropriate insurance you can sue if it all goes wrong.
Business is not easy - there are always competitors doing their best to beat you. So if you don't actually enjoy what you are doing, you are already behind the eight ball.
You also need to know why the vendor is selling. A bad business can often lead to a bad back.
The first test should be the common sense test - are the seller's claims reasonable? Be wary of claims that cash has been taken out of the business. Count only add-backs that can be traced through the books.
You can follow up by talking to customers, suppliers etc.
The true price you should take into consideration is the "Enterprise Value", which includes the stock, and the working capital need to maintain the business. This would depend on such things as payment terms between customers and suppliers, and any seasonal factors which can influence the cash flow
There are no hard and fast rules, but you cash flow should enable you to pay off the interest and principal in a reasonable time, say 5-6 years.
Unless you really know what you are doing, it is probably safer to pay more for a solid business with a good track record and prospects, than to pay a bargain price for a shaky business.
If you are dealing with a crook or a con man, there is not much comfort in having a contract which says he promises not to cheat you. So you need to know who your seller is. And make sure all possible concerns you may have are addressed as conditions in the contract and alleviated before handing over your money.
Use a good solicitor who specializes in business conveyancing to prepare the contract, and a reputable Accountants to conduct "Due Diligence" prior to completion.
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Further Information on buying a business and businesses for sale:
Buying a business is a complicated process. Being a buyer, you should understand the reasons why someone would be selling their business. These reasons should be eventually taken into consideration to make sure that whatever business you are buying is of your interest, profitable and gives you complete value for your money. There are so many businesses for sale. In such a case how will you decide which the best business for you to buy is? If you go out on a survey by yourself, there are many hidden facts about the business for sale that you might not be able to uncover on your own. Therefore it is advised that you seek the help of professional business brokers. These professional business brokers will take care of the following points to make your business buying process easy and you will avoid falling into any traps. You can make the right decision with ease and comfort. Those who are willing to sell business ventures will provide the right information to you about their business because of a neutral third party intervention. These business brokers ensure credibility of their sellers, so that they have a good reputation in the market and you can further recommend them to your friends and acquaintances. What are the main issues that business brokers help you with, if you want to buy the right kind of business?
These are a few things that will ensure that you optimize time, make the right decision and yet have complete peace of mind. Remember, the best way to buy or sell business, is to come to a reputed broker, who will ensure you a reasonable deal, always.
Meet our team:
Maximum Value, Fast!
We specialise in achieving the maximum sale price for your business with the best possible deal structure for you and within a fast timeframe. 
Real Business Experience
Lloyds have over 40 Years of industry experience with a team of passionate and qualified business brokers, specialising in mid-market business sales of $1 million to $100 million. 
Free Business Appraisal
A qualified business broker will provide you with an obligation free, pre-sale appraisal of your business, so you know what approx timeframe and price to expect before proceeding. 
Access To Buyers
Lloyds has an Australian and International reach, with a database of over 50,000 prospective buyers and equity firms ready to start marketing your business to. 
Confidentiality Guaranteed
With discrete marketing techniques your confidentiality before, during and after the sale process is guaranteed. 
Step-By-Step Guidance
We step you through the process finding the right buyer, preparing to achieve maximum sale value and closing the sale.
