Buying a Business

Seller Carry. Why We Should Avoid It When We Buy Business in NYC

“Seller carry” is a legitimate way to secure a business purchase in certain scenarios. It basically consists of the financing made by the selling party of a portion of the sale over an extended period.

This might be a reasonable course of action in the event that:

* The buyer doesn’t have all the funds available
* The bank won’t lend the remaining amount
* The seller, nonetheless, still wants to go ahead with the sale

Notwithstanding, there is a lingering temptation on the part of investors to keep sellers on a leash via a _seller carry note_ that could function as an additional “warranty” of sorts, beyond whatever other warranties found in the Asset Purchase Agreement (APA in short). If a seller agrees to the issuance of this seller carry note, the buyer is thus reassured that the former will not try to “cut and run” when serious problems arise.

There is nothing wrong with exercising a bit of caution, particularly when you buy a business in New York City (of all places). Alas, this fear can get a bit too far and we can end up pushing away a good seller for no discernible reason.

It should not surprise us that putting such a burden on the seller is not appreciated, especially whenever the buyer has all the means to pay the required amount. When we push it too far, asking for a seller carry can become a giant deal-breaker. For this reason, business brokers advise against opting for this route save for special circumstances.

Bank Financing to Buy a Business New York City

If you decide to buy a business (NYC and elsewhere), banks actually _do _finance a large sum of the investment price, contrary to what many would believe. Most often than not, this financing represents a whopping 90% of the asset’s value, which is the maximum percentage guaranteed by the US government-backed SBA (Small Business Administration).

Unless you genuinely have a bad credit score – in which case, you’re not eligible to buy a business in New York City in the first place – getting credit for a sizable portion of a small business’ purchase price should not be overly difficult. A competent business brokerage firm can offer assistance in this regard and direct you to highly affordable and reliable lenders.

Situations could arise, however, in which investors don’t have the remaining 10% or they need to fill a 5% gap, in which case, seller carry notes are a good alternative. Be advised that seller carry notes should not wholly _replace_ the loan but rather serve as a means to mend the fence when available funds are not enough.

The only reasons you’d want the seller to assume an exceedingly high percentage of your purchase in lieu of a bank is because:

* As said earlier, you don’t trust him/her; or
* You’re not actually a suitable buyer under the criteria set out by virtually every professional business broker, to begin with, if only because you’re not in good standing with financial institutions

Either way, the seller’s confidence in you wanes and he/she might even feel offended by the proposal. It’s one thing to abide by the “settled accounts keep old friends” motto, and another one to go the extra mile and call good faith into question beyond necessary.

Buy a Business (NYC) in 2022

Are you planning to buy a business NYC in 2022? Then don’t hesitate to contact the best New York City business agents. Getting professional help will prove to be extremely useful in order to streamline your purchase.

Amidst the economic turmoil that was caused by the health crisis experienced during the past 2 years, the business selling market has been subjected to severe fluctuations and changes along the way, both positive and negative. Nonetheless, it’s often said that, in times of crisis, new investment opportunities spawn.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU MIGHT FACE IF YOU DECIDE TO SELL OR BUY BUSINESS NYC IN 2022?

It’s important to be aware of what you might have to face whenever you decide to sell or buy a business. NYC is touted as the financial capital of the free world but, at the same time, it’s filled with challenges, both with regards to competition as well as regulation.

These challenges will vary according to which side of the business selling market we decide to analyze.

Challenges for Buyers

If you lie on the buyer’s side, it’s essential that you familiarize yourself with the industry you plan to get yourself into, as well as the budget needed to choose your ideal business within that industry.

To attain this goal, the aid of skillful New York business brokers could turn out to be very convenient, for they may hand useful tips that ought to reinforce your decision or, rather, make you reconsider where you want to put your money. Business firms can also get you in contact with trustworthy sellers thanks to their exclusive network of clients and connections.

Challenges for Sellers

Sellers don’t have it any easier. You would need to be capable of weeding out any “window shoppers” in the course of the selling process, This time-consuming chore will not be doable when you simultaneously have a company to run.

An experienced business agent has more time to sift through all the list of people who’ve shown moderate interest in the sale and to pick the ones with the best qualifications for participation in the next phase.

These agencies also have the advantage of possessing a database comprised of qualified investors who could match your specific profile and are eager to buy a business NYC clients especially.

Privacy is another concern, especially since you wouldn’t want information regarding the sale to get to the ears of the competition and the employees. A diligent business agent is trained to get the process going without much disclosure, meanwhile permitting buyers with an ounce of liability to learn more about the company.

Challenges during the Sale

In the midst of a business sale, a “natural” tension is fostered between the interests of both the buyer and the seller. They both hinge primarily upon financial concerns.

On the one hand, the buyer would like to seal the deal at a bargain price, while, on the other hand, the seller wishes to have the best return on investments.

In light of these two conflicting interests, each party should benefit from the assistance of a professional broker. That way, both of them benefit from the deal by finding a middle ground, not only on the negotiating table but also when setting expectations at the very beginning of the procedure.

How To Find A Good Buyer For Your Business

People looking to buy a business in New York City would want to be informed about the best deals from the most trustworthy sellers. Nevertheless, sellers will also want to look for the most reliable investors in a short span of time. Stick around to find out how to proceed from a seller’s point of view.

Best Methods For Finding Investors Intending to Buy Business New York City

Unless you are the owner of a big company, the best way to get the needed exposure for your business sale is by doing some advertising work.

Insofar as people who are on the lookout to buy a business in New York City would turn to certain mechanisms for finding a good investment option, a seller also ought to be aware of what these mechanisms usually are and tackle them. This is ascertained through a process called “market analysis”.

Nevertheless, as of the time of writing, these are the most common strategies utilized:

1. INTERNET MARKETING

Gone are the days when you had to go to a physical building or call the local newspaper to buy space in its classified section. The internet has roughly overridden this tedious process and has streamlined advertising so that, in many instances, you don’t even have to pay.

There is a great array of internet sale sites, but many of them offer membership plans. If you’re not financially able to acquire membership on every one of those sites, you might try at least the most popular ones such as bizbuysell.com [https://www.bizbuysell.com/] or axial.net [/axial.net]

2. Email Marketing

This is mostly applicable to business brokers since they’ve been already establishing networks and connections with other buyers, brokers, venture capitalists, and private equity firms.

Sometimes, the optimal way to target investors looking to buy a business in New York City is through the broker’s email address book. A brokerage firm very likely has a more extensive list of people who already authorized them to notify whenever a new business is up for grabs, so the process of looking for buyers becomes a bit more immediate.

You may also take advantage of the email lists provided by sites such as bizbuysell.com, albeit the relationship is not as personal.

3. “INSIDER” OR “STRATEGIC ACQUIRER” CAMPAIGN

Through this method, we would target business owners in the same sector who may wish to merge our company with theirs, expand into your local market, or increase their business group.

This type of marketing aims at keeping our dealings away from the public eye while also directing our efforts towards people with a proven track record, basically making the screening process a lot easier.

However, it demands a bit more effort on the part of the marketers, since they would need to get a hold of email addresses, telephone numbers, and/or LinkedIn connections, as well as to try to get in contact with them numerous times until they get an answer.

4. Print Marketing

The printing press is not out of the woods, yet! Though this is probably the least efficient method nowadays, owing to the widespread use of digital means. Nevertheless, publishing our campaign in a magazine catered to a specific industry may help arouse the interest of possible candidates potentially looking to buy a business in New York City that matches your proposal.

TO CONCLUDE

Finding a suitable buyer is just one milestone in the long process of selling a business. New York business brokers can make the process a lot shorter by assisting you with their expertise and extensive knowledge in the field of business sales.

Buy a Business in NYC

Throughout history, we’ve been taught that the best way to succeed in life is by starting our own business. All things considered, it was the way in which many of the biggest emporiums existing nowadays began, sometimes with just a passing idea and not much else. These days, however, to fast-track your career as an entrepreneur, it’s a far better option to buy a business in NYC rather than going through the hassle of beginning from scratch.

Unquestionably, the chances of appearing in the biggest business publications and being featured as a role model in motivational books and speeches diminish considerably, but you will definitely profit from having some foundations already placed for your business adventure, bypassing all the boundaries set by the current marketplace and just focusing on productivity and revenue.

BUY A BUSINESS IN NYC

As expressed before, you get a bunch of benefits when choosing to buy a business in NYC. New York City is considered by many to be the “financial capital of the world” and the largest center for trading in the US and beyond. As you can imagine, you will get overwhelming competition that, in all respects, can obliterate your chances to be situated under the spotlight of your target audience. Notwithstanding, business selling is an extremely normal practice in huge urban areas like New York, and it’s a very profitable trade for all parties involved.

Some of the benefits include:

HIGHER CHANCES OF GETTING A LOAN TO BUY BUSINESS IN NYC

Revenues are hardly ever obtained without sacrificing some capital first. This is one of the primary reasons why people have borrowed money historically, especially through financial institutions, at times in exchange for interest rates which can reach very onerous amounts.

Banks don’t just give out money to anyone and their mother. For a loan application to be approved by your bank, you must present a very credible project with clear and tangible expectations. Luckily, the odds of getting approved for a loan to purchase an already established business – especially one with a solid footing – are much higher.

A WORKING BUSINESS

Assuming you decide to buy a business in NYC that is currently operational, you can rest assured that you’ll save copious amounts of money and stress in the meantime, for you won’t have to struggle with the ordeal of enlisting staff, opening bank accounts, setting up departments, filing gigantic loads of paperwork, and dealing with the uncertainties of treading unexplored territories. Others already did that for you!

AN ESTABLISHED BRAND

NYC is not a friendly place for advertising. This may sound ironic considering the gross amount of marketing material popping up in every corner of “The Big Apple”, but that’s precisely the problem! When you’re not the only business in town that can provide a given value proposal, you get dimmer chances to shine in the eyes of potential customers.

The moment you buy a business in NYC, you will be reaping the fruits of possibly years-long efforts of promotional work that have solidified the brand, particularly in such a crowded city.

This business should be expected to have an existing client base, its own social media accounts, and a working flourishing website or online shop. All you would need to do is to keep the momentum, which is not easy, but certainly more attainable than building a follower or client base from nothing.

Get Professional Help

If you are planning to buy a business in NYC, selecting a competent business broker to help you out is a must. With the aid of a legitimate business firm, you’ll be properly equipped for choosing the best deals, as they assist you with filtering through all the potential businesses that match your criteria.

Additionally, NYC business brokers are thoroughly trained to cope with all the technicalities involved in the process of buying a business, including (but not reduced to) compliance measures, the drafting (and filing) of highly technical documentation, all the legal and financing procedures involved, and all the aspects of any bargaining process.

Buying a Business in New York City

Owning a business, especially in a place as busy as New York City, can take a toll on your mental health. Sometimes, even successful entrepreneurs need to take a long break, touch grass, or ultimately retire from the strenuous routine of managing and overlooking an entire operation from Monday to Monday.

Whenever you feel you’re spending too much on your medical bill due to stress, perhaps it’s time to call it quits and find someone else to take the burden. Many newcomers in the business field are opting for buying a business in New York City rather than doing their own startups.

These are the tried-and-true methods for finding a suitable buyer.

1. HIRE A BROKER

Believe it or not, selling a business is not as easy as placing a price tag on a wall. Someone looking to buy a business (New York City-based especially) is going to make sure that the company you’re selling is legit and that the pricing is accurate.

Another thing to be mindful of is the increasing amount of regulation that exists on the matter and the enormous task of trying to make sense of it all, both for selling as well as for buying a business (in New York City and virtually every other major city in the US).

Business firms are theoretically staffed with the right personnel to deal with these hot topics. Also, they have the tools to find buyers with the correct criteria that would be highly interested in your trade. They’re also well-versed in how to handle proper business valuation, a task that involves much more than just looking around the premises and going by gut feeling.

2. WORK WITH A PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

While it might be more profitable to find people who are looking to buy a business New York City private equity firms might just be an option when no other buyer is on sight.

But, there are some things you won’t be able to sidestep, such as the demand on the part of some PE firms to keep the previous owner around to run operations in exchange for some earn-outs as compensation. PE firms may also “fire you” if you don’t deliver satisfactory results that can be reflected on paper, which can be a bit frustrating.

In short, if you opt for a PE firm thinking that it’s the quicker route, tread carefully!

3. LIST YOUR BUSINESS

Do you want to do it on your own? Consider websites such as BizBuySell.com for listing your business.

People interested in buying a business in New York City should be able to find you easily, but you’ll probably need to pay a fee in order to appear among the first results of a search, to be featured on the first page of the portal or to simply have your company listed. Yet, it’s very probable that you will spend less on these fees than on hiring a broker, though, which is a plus.

Keep in mind that you’ll be in charge of filtering potential buyers and setting up meetings with inquirers and potential buyers, among many other responsibilities.

4. FIND A RELATIVE, PARTNER, OR ACQUAINTANCE.

Instead of trying to find anonymous people looking to buy a business (New York City can be a tricky place to secure safe deals with strangers), you could instead spread the word around your family circles in search of potential buyers that are trustworthy and probably won’t be as picky.

Nevertheless, while the idea of keeping your business in the family could sound enticing, be prepared for a discounted sale. Consider it as part of the fee you’ll have to pay to speed the process up.

Another option is to sell your portion of the company to your partners, provided that they’re interested.

Finally, one of your employees may be experiencing a lucky streak and potentially would be interested in buying a business in New York City. Perhaps he/she could buy yours!