Buyer Resources

Should you buy a business or start from scratch?

Too many people fall victim to trying to build a rocket ship from scratch and send it to the moon. We believe the wiser approach is to buy a muscle car on Main Street.

Using a 401(k) to Buy a Business

You can partially or wholly fund your business purchase by executing a 401k Rollover as Business Start-up (ROBS). But that’s not the only way to leverage a 401k to buy a business.

The 10 Steps To Buying A Business

From identifying what you want in a business to maintaining your new business, there are many steps to take in the process of buying a business. Make sure you don’t miss any important ones along the way.

How to Determine What Size Business You Can Buy

Unlike the real estate market, the market for buying a business can be confusing and opaque. We outline the main considerations for estimating the size of the business you can buy.

What Is a Search Fund?

Invented in 1984 by Irving Grousbeck, search funds have become a popular way for people to acquire small businesses using investor capital.

How To Find a Business Broker as a Buyer

Finding a business to buy can be hard. Having the expert help of a broker can help you make the right decision if you choose the right one.

5 Ways to Find Businesses for Sale

Business-for-sale listing websites aren't the only place where you can find businesses for sale. Besides the slew of listing websites, you can try brokers, the owners directly, and more.

A Survey of Business-for-sale Sites

Starting with BizBuySell in the mid 90s, there has been an explosion of business-for-sale websites. This article surveys the options out there based on their functionality, number of listings, price and monthly traffic.

How to measure returns on a small business acquisition with MOIC

Multiple of invested capital (or MOIC) is a useful metric when considering the purchase of a small business. We'll go through what it is, how to calculate it, and how to use MOIC when conducting due diligence.

Customer Concentration in Small Business Sales

Customer concentration is a measure of how reliant a business is on a small group of customers. In this post, we’ll dig into why it matters, how to calculate it, and what to do about it.

Working Capital in a Small Business Acquisition

Working capital allows operations to run smoothly even when there's cash coming in and out the door on different timelines. We'll help you understand all things working capital as it relates to small business acquisitions.

10 Tips for Buying a Business in a New Industry

Thinking of purchasing a business in a new industry? This is the list for you. Read this post for tips on how to acquire a business in a new industry.

Comprehensive Buying A Business Checklist: Due Diligence and More

From business selection to due diligence to negotiating, make sure you are checking all the boxes as you go on your journey of buying an existing business.

Seller Notes In Financing A Business For Sale

Commonly used in small business acquisitions, a seller promissory note is used by the seller to provide a loan to the buyer. Most Beacon transactions are funded by at least 10% of a seller note.

Letter of Intent Template

Our Letter of Intent template is a great starting point for submitting an offer to acquire a small business in an asset sale.

How To Use An SBA Loan To Buy A Business

One of the more popular options amongst business buyers, SBA loans can help you finance acquiring an existing business or franchise if you meet the requirements.

Transition Periods in a Small Business Acquisition

Almost all business acquisitions include a transition period. This post details the purpose of transition plans, their structure and compensation, and more.

Should I use an SBA loan broker when buying a small business?

When considering finding and applying for the best loan for a given small business acquisition, small business entrepreneurs often ask whether they should hire a loan broker. This guest post lays out the case for engaging with an SBA loan broker.

Non-solicits: What are they and why are they important in a small business acquisition?

Non-solicits are important to understand in the context of a small business deal. This contract helps protect the goodwill value of the business being acquired.

Best Practices for Announcing the Sale of a Business

Announcing the sale of a business is a critical part of the transition of ownership. If done correctly, the new owner will hit the ground running.