Buying a Business Articles

When it comes to being approved for both business and personal loans, you can be certain that a bank will want collateral. With said collateral, your bank becomes less concerned that they’ll be left high and dry when the loan remains unpaid. With a lack of collateral, many budding business owners are held back by the fact that they lack the collateral needed to buy a business. Though luckily, there are ways that one can buy a business without having any type of collateral or very little.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the first stop for those wanting to buy a business with a low level of collateral. The SBA’s 7 (a) program provides banks with incentives to make loans to buyers. These buyers can buy a business in any state such as Illinois or Indiana, etc. By utilizing this program, the SBA will provide a guarantee for a whopping 75% of the loan amount, but the borrower still has to have the remaining 25% in some cases, but perhaps as low as 10%. To put it into perspective, this would mean that on a $1 million dollar business, the borrower just has to come up with $250,000 max in most cases, but often times much less.

Through the SBA’s 7 (a) program it opens up the possibility for prospective business owners to consider businesses that may have been out of reach otherwise. Anyone looking to become a first-time business owner will want to fully explore all that the SBA’s 7 (a) program has to offer as they even hold a second aspect to the program which allows the cash that is fronted for 10-25% of the loan to be from an investor or provided to the borrower as a gift.

Another option one could look into would be seller financing and it’s certainly not as rare as many suspect. This method of financing is actually quite common. If sellers are motivated, they are much more willing to consider seller financing. Those motivations could come from a variety of reasons such as retirement, unexpected personal problems, or just burnout. There is also the possibility that seller financing and the SBA’s 7 (a) program could be used together. Which in turn could greatly increase your chances of buying a business. Now of course there are still potential obstacles or limitations to consider with the SBA’s 7 (a) program. For example, the program requires that sellers cannot receive any form of payment for a full two-year time period in most cases.

But all that to say that a lack of collateral doesn’t have to mean the end of the dream of owning a business. If you are interested in owning your own business and lack collateral, meet with a consultant at S.C.O.R.E. and other experienced professionals, such as a business broker or M&A advisor. An experienced brokerage professional will have a wide array of ideas for how to buy a business with little or limited collateral.

Copyright © 2022 American Business Acquisitions, Inc. 

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When owning and operating a business, the day to day can be rather demanding. Which means that sometimes, important details slip through the cracks. An extremely common issue amongst business owners is when they don’t take the time to fully understand or comprehend their leases. And as you could guess, could lead to a variety of problems. Being aware of each of the essential points within your business location’s lease is a key part of your success. Some businesses such as restaurants and services, fully rely on being location sensitive.

Don’t Let Key Details Slip by You

Regardless of what kind of business you own, it is vital that you understand every aspect of your lease. Oftentimes business owners will hire an attorney to help understand the implications of the minor points. Avoiding the time it takes to comprehend these points could result in the failure of your business.

The Length of Your Lease

This tops the list of factors that you will need to completely understand. While there are many variables that will affect you, in general, the longer your lease the better. The longer the lease, the higher the increase in your business stability.

Exit and Exclusivity Clauses

If you are negotiating a lease, it is prudent to include an option for getting out of the lease. Just as mentioned above, longer leases provide greater flexibility. The same holds true for being able to exit your lease if the need arises. Leases are not one-dimensional documents, just like your location isn’t either and where your business is located actually matters. If you are signing a lease to locate your business in a strip mall or shopping mall, you should try to have written into your lease agreement that you are the only business of your type that will be located in the mall. After all, the last thing you want is to see a similar business opening up nearby.

Transferring Your Lease

Although lease longevity and being able to terminate your lease at any time are critically important, so is being able to transfer your lease. You may need to up and sell your business in the future, unexpectedly or otherwise. Having a clear and concise understanding of how to transfer and under what circumstances you can transfer your lease to a new owner will be imperative.

You should have a discussion with your landlord about the potential of selling your business in the future before you go to market, so that you both are on the same page about what your lease is able to convey. While the landlord cannot restrict the sale of your business, you could get left holding a personal guarantee in order for the lease to remain in place for the remainder of the existing lease term. Then the new owner would be left to negotiate the lease renewal on their own.

Assignment of Responsibilities

Determining what you are responsible for and what your landlord is responsible for is another key factor in rounding out your lease agreement. Sometimes as a business owner, you are required to handle specificities related to the property itself. If so, those responsibilities should be clearly outlined in the lease.

Of course, there are many variables to consider when choosing to own and operate a business. Location consideration should be amongst your top priorities, and you should do everything possible to understand your lease down to the very last detail. And remember, when in the process of signing a new lease, try to negotiate factors that are as helpful to you as possible.

Copyright © 2022 American Business Acquisitions, Inc. 

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When most people think of starting a business, they usually think they will start from scratch, develop an idea, and build the company from the ground up. There are some major disadvantages with starting from scratch, including developing a customer base, hiring employees, marketing the new business, and creating cash flow… all of this is done without a well-built reputation or long-standing history in place. To avoid challenges, buying a business that is already in existence usually proves to be a better solution. Buying existing can have its advantages – including, but not limited to:

The Business Is Established.

An existing business already has structure in place. There is an established track record, a customer base, and a relationship already built. There is a physical location with furniture, fixtures, and equipment in place. The term “turn-key” may be overused, but an existing business is just that, and more. A franchise might describe their business as “turn-key”, but it ends there. Start-ups are just that, starting from scratch with all of the disadvantages as stated above and others.

The Business Has Existing Relationships.

There is a lot to be said for having an established relationship in place with customers, vendors, and suppliers. Most businesses also have experience employees, and that alone can be a valuable asset to a company. A new buyer might already have a relationship with various vendors, such as banks, advertising agencies, advisors, insurance companies, banks, etc., but if not ­– the existing business does and that can be transferred to the new buyer as part of the acquisition. Working with a professional Chicago area Business Broker or M&A Advisor at American Business Acquisitions will help ensure that all of these details are accounted for.

The New Business Risk.

When starting a new business, it doesn’t matter how much time, money, and research you invest, there is still risk involved when starting a business from scratch. You won’t have the financial track record, along with established policies and procedures that an existing business has in place. A prospective buyer can see the financial history of a business, like when sales or high or low, what the expenses entail, how much money an owner can make, and more. Also, in almost all cases, a seller is more than willing to stay on board to help teach and work alongside the new owner – sometimes free of charge for a reasonable period of time, and for compensation longer-term in some cases.

The “Unwritten” Guarantee.

When a seller finances a small portion of the purchase price, he or she is essentially saying that they are confident that the business will be able to pay its bills, and provide support for the new owner, in addition to making any required payments to the seller.

Copyright © 2022 American Business Acquisitions, Inc. 

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Owning your own business if something people frequently dream about, as there is a broad range of perks and benefits that go along with ownership. However, it is important for prospective business owners to take a step back and determine if they are truly ready for the next steps. In this article, we will explore three essential questions that any potential business owner needs to answer before taking those next steps.

Question One – Do You Have the Right Personality Type?

In a lot of cases, not everyone has the right personality type to truly enjoy being a business owner, and it is for the better that you have a clear understanding of your own traits before attempting a purchase. For example, you must be comfortable assuming a certain degree of risk.

Risk and business go hand-in-hand. Risk does not go away, even if your business is in prime operating condition. Not everyone is entirely comfortable taking on this level of risk. Being a business owner means that you not only take on a financial risk, but you also give up a certain degree of stability that comes with just being an employee. To sum it up, you must have the right mindset to operate a business.

Question Two – Are You Determined to Grow Your Income?

Owning and operating a business means that you’ll have to put in a great deal of work and potentially longer hours than you are accustomed to. Typically, this is necessary to build your business and increase your income. It is important that you ask yourself if you are truly ready for the amount of work that comes along with owning and operating a business. Statistics show that the longer you are a business owner, the more money you will generally earn.

Question Three – Are You Comfortable with Achieving More Control in Your Life?

At first glance, many people may instantly feel that they want more control over their professional lives. Yet in reality, this is not always the situation. Being a business owner means that you have far more control over your professional and business life. Most will view this as a great thing. It’s a good feeling, being able to allocate your time as you see fit and not having someone else control your fate. As a business owner, you are not just a part of the business, you are the person controlling, modeling, and guiding it. At the end of the day, there is nothing quite like being your own boss.

If you are ready for the amount of work and risk, then it might be time to take the next steps. To begin the process of owning a business, one of the best ways to start is to work with a Business Broker or M&A Advisor at American Business Acquisitions. ABA is your premier Chicago business broker team that specializes in the process of buying a business. The professionals at ABA have years of hands-on experience in the buying and selling of businesses and can help determine what kind of business is best for you.

The associates at ABA will work hand in hand with business buyers in locating a business for sale and then analyzes all business opportunities in order to determine how viable and profitable each specific business is. They will help determine the details as to what kind of business it is, where it’s located, how it operates, the history of operation, financial and operating projections, gather a list of assets, what all is included in the sale, and also any information relative to competition.

Any business buyer or buyer group can schedule a free consultation with the link on each page of the abausa.com website, which is: https://calendly.com/abameeting

Alternatively, buyers can email info@abausa.com or call 312.360.1955 and leave a message stating the best times for us to reach them with their contact information.

Copyright © 2022 American Business Acquisitions, Inc. 

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Without a doubt, buying a business in Chicago or elsewhere, can be very exciting; however, prospective buyers mustn’t overlook what is truly important. So let’s take a look at the five most important steps that any buyer needs to take when evaluating a business. As a buyer, the simple fact is that you have no choice but to look beyond the sizzle and work to find the steak. In other words, determining the true worth of a business is essential.

#1 – Evaluate What is Actually Being Sold

No buyer should assume that they understand everything that is, or is not, being sold when buying a business. Therefore, one of the most important tasks for any buyer is to carefully evaluate the business of interest and invest the time to fully understand what the business does and what is included in the sale. This is a task that your Business Broker or Merger and Acquisitions Advisor here in Chicago or elsewhere will assist in performing to help a buyer understand the business of interest.

#2 – Understand Business Performance

Fully understanding the ins and outs of how a business performs can be more complex than it initially appears. On the one hand, the numbers don’t lie, and it is possible to quickly evaluate the business’s bottom line. On the other hand, however, when going through the evaluation process, you and your Business Acquisition Broker or M&A Advisor might discover that there are factors that could alter the performance of the business. For example, a buyer will want to consider the number of hours the current business owner is working and if the key employees contribute enough to the business in terms of labor, etc. There is a wide array of factors that can influence the overall operation, and these are just two examples.

#3 – Look at the Financials

Ultimately, there is no replacement for fully understanding the current financial standings of a business. It could be that a business has all the potential in the world. However, some buyers may obtain some sort of financing, so it is critical that the business has strong financials in its current state. Therefore, during the due diligence process, you and your team of professionals will want to carefully perform a business valuation or estimate of value, including, assessing the profit and loss statements, reviewing tax returns, balance sheets, and obtain any other important financial documents.

#4 – Evaluate the Business Plan

It is vital to have an understanding of the current owner’s goals and recognize what steps they’ve outlined to achieve those goals. As a new owner, having a solid business plan in place and knowing that there is a clear path forward to grow your business is essential for achieving that goal. A business plan template for new business buyers is available on our American Business Acquisitions website. https://abausa.com/creating-developing-business-plan-buy-start-business/

#5 – Look at the Demographics

Understanding your customers is one of the best ways to grow your business. For this reason, knowing the business demographics and why customers should remain loyal is very important. You will also want to know if there are any changes on the horizon, such as any new competition in Chicago if buying a business there or if a competitor is expanding in the Illinois area.

Evaluating a business is not a simple process. Working closely with a business brokerage professional intermediary who has years of experience in assessing all types of businesses, ranging from B2B or B2C service businesses or companies to large manufacturing or distribution companies. This first step is an excellent way to begin the process of finding the right business for your needs.

Copyright © 2021 American Business Acquisitions, Inc. 

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Do you think you have what it takes to be a business owner, but don’t want to start from scratch? Then you may be a great candidate to buy an existing business in Chicago!

While it can initially cost more to buy an existing company, there’s also way less risk.

• The product or service has already been market tested
• The brand is established
• You can secure financing more easily
• There isn’t any lost startup time

There are many elements that go into buying a business in Chicago or elsewhere, including environmental and social factors. Let’s take a closer look at some of these and how they might influence your decision to purchase.

Health and Safety Policies

A health and safety policy is a general approach to a company’s commitment to health and safety. A good policy details how the business will minimize the risk of injury and illness from workplace operations. While some industries are naturally higher risk than others, all businesses must have policies and procedures in place to protect employees.

Here’s some things to think about when you’re considering your options.

• Do you want to choose a business that has well-established health and safety policies in place?
• Do you want to create your own policy?
• Do you want to delegate and possibly even hire a specific person to create and implement your health and safety policies?

Health and safety policies might sound like a boring aspect of owning a business, but it’s crucial to have strong ones in place in order to protect your employees and your business. If the business you intend to purchase already has policies in place, then it’s one less key operational responsibility to worry about.

Employee Well-Being

If you’re hoping for a smooth transition, buying a business with existing employees can be a smart decision. For example, consider keeping employees that hold certain licenses the business needs to operate. This saves you the time and hassle of having to interview and hire someone new and qualified.

However, if you choose a business with disgruntled employees, they aren’t likely to stay on board during the transition. Employees are the heart of the company, so if you’re buying a business with happy employees, then you’re generally in good shape.

Here are some tips to maintain employee happiness and well-being.

• Pay a fair wage
• Encourage open communication and ask for feedback
• Keep morale up with a healthy work/life balance
• Protect employee’s health and safety
• Provide clear communication about employee expectations as well as company policies, manuals, and benefits

When looking for a Chicago-based business, keep employees’ well-being and performance in mind. Depending on the type of business, finding and keeping valuable employees can be difficult. Employees who are fulfilled and treated well are more likely to stay at a company and continue to perform exceptional work.

Don’t get off to the wrong start at the beginning. Build positive rapports by including existing employees on the new employment terms and respect the systems and relationships already in place.

Corporate and Social Responsibility

Consumers feel it’s important for businesses to demonstrate responsibility and take stances on current social movements. From our experience, we agree.

Chicago businesses that practice social responsibility tend to make more ethical decisions that protect their communities, leading to increased consumer trust.

Consumers like to support companies that share their values.

• Consumers are willing to pay more if a company has a strong ethical footprint or mission
• Consumers feel a shared connection with the business due to mutual values
• Companies with strong social responsibility are more likely to be referred to friends and families, as well as promoted on social media platforms by loyal consumers

Rather than starting from scratch, you can purchase a business whose social and ethical values align with yours and carry on their reputation. Bonus – you’ll also have a solid customer base already established.

In Conclusion

As the major metropolitan city of the Midwest, Chicago is an excellent choice to start your business ownership adventure. It’s a city that thrives on innovation and holds American values and reputation to a high standard. When buying a business in Chicago (or anywhere, for that matter), it’s important to keep these factors in mind. They can help you make a more informed purchase decision that allows you to start working and growing your business right away. To learn more about buying a business in Chicago, contact American Business Acquisitions today.