Who Are The Buyers

Buyers buy businesses for many of the same reasons that sellers sell businesses. It is important that the buyer is as serious as the seller when it comes time to purchase a business. If the buyer is not serious, the sale will never close. Here are just a few of the reasons that buyers buy businesses:

• Laid-off, fired, being transferred (or about to be any of these)
• Early retirement (forced or not)
• Job dissatisfaction
• Desire for more control over their lives
• Desire to do his or her own thing

​A Buyer Profile

Here is a look at the make-up of the average individual buyer looking to replace a lost job or wanting to get out of an uncomfortable job situation. Chances are he is a male (however, more and more women are going into business for themselves, so this is rapidly changing). Almost 50 percent will have less than $100,000 in which to invest in the purchase of a business. In many cases the funds, or part of them, will come from personal savings followed by financial assistance from family members. The buyer will never have owned a business before, and most likely will buy a business he or she had never considered until being introduced to it.

Their primary reason for going into business is to get out of their present situation. This can include unemployment or job disagreement (or discouragement). A prospective buyer may want to do their own thing, be in charge of their own destiny, and they don’t want to work for anyone. Money is important, but it’s not at the top of the list, in fact, it probably is in third or fourth place in the overall list. In order to pursue their dream of owning one’s own business the buyer must be able to make that “leap of faith” necessary to take the risk of purchasing and operating a business.

Buyers who want to go into business strictly for the money usually are not realistic buyers for small businesses. Keep in mind the following traits of a willing buyer:

• The desire to buy a business
• The need and urgency to buy a business
• The financial resources
• The ability to make his or her own decisions
• Reasonable expectations of what business ownership can do for him or her

​What Buyers Want

This may be a bit premature if you have not decided to sell, but it may help in your decision-making process to understand not only who the buyer is, but also what he or she will want to know in order to buy your business. Here are some questions that you might be asked – and, should be prepared to answer:

• ​How much money is required to buy the business?
• What is the annual increase in sales?
• How much is the inventory?
• What is the debt?
• Will the seller train and stay on for awhile?
• What makes the business different/special/unique?
• What further defines the product or service? Bid work? Repeat business?
• What can be done to grow the business?
• What can the buyer do to add value?
• What is the profit picture in bad times as well as good?

Buyers Want Cash Flow

​The first thing to keep in mind is that the vast majority of buyers want to buy a good cash flow. Sit down with your accountant or bookkeeper and begin to get your financial statements in order, with cash flow the order of business. Cash flow is not the same thing as profit. Most buyers look at the profit and loss statement or tax return, as well as owner or family compensation.They will consider any excess compensation to employees and family. Buyers will also look at large, one-time expenses such as a new computer system or remodeling. They will consider non-cash items like depreciation and amortization. Interest expenses will be reviewed, as will owner prerequisites. These are items that a professional business broker considers when advising a selling client on a selling price.

*Tip
What about the Internet? The Internet is a real “buzz” word – and if its use is appropriate for your business, then developing a web site is important not only to your on-going business, but also to a buyer. Many buyers are conscious of what the Internet is doing for many businesses. If you have a web site for your business, it could be a big plus.