buy business in nyc Tag

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 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.