![]() Even with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, business still continues and new opportunities present themselves every day. Buying an existing business is a common approach to expanding your market share or entering into a new market. Business purchase transactions – otherwise known as mergers and acquisitions – tend to be complex whether you're the buyer or the seller. While a seller may be intimately familiar with the operations and finances of a business they’ve built themselves, an outside buyer must take care to do all the proper due diligence before purchasing. As a buyer, you usually have only a limited time to evaluate and appraise every important factor of the business you're looking to buy. Once you complete the sale, you become responsible for any liabilities owed by the business you just bought. If you overlook a critical detail or fail to ask the right questions before your transaction, you may agree to a business purchase agreement that ends up costing you more than the sale was worth. One of the biggest mistakes you can make going into a business purchase transaction is to do it without the help and counsel of a lawyer. Imagine buying a business only to find out a couple of years later that you owe thousands of dollars in back taxes or debt. A business lawyer’s job is to anticipate potential issues that may arise and address them in your business purchase agreement so that you’re covered against these types of unpleasant surprises down the road. If you're looking to buy a Philadelphia area business or company, Holmes Business Law can help position your new acquisition for the best possible success. Call our office today at 215-482-0285 to talk to an experienced business lawyer about your options. How Do You Buy an Existing Business?Buying an existing business involves several steps that may vary depending on the approach you choose to take. Your business lawyer can help you navigate the many decisions you’ll have to make throughout the buying process. First, you must choose how to structure your deal.
Once you choose the type of deal you want to pursue, you must determine the purchase price that you’ll propose to the seller. Here, you’ll likely have to involve the expertise of business appraisers, investment bankers, accountants, and other valuation specialists at the direction of your lawyer. Based on your bargaining power, liquidity, and risk tolerance, you can offer the seller cash, equity, debt, assets, or a combination compensation package. Once you've determined your strategy, your lawyer will draft a letter of intent (LOI) to present to the seller for both sides to sign. The LOI should cover:
Due Diligence Checklist for Buying an Existing Business The due diligence process involves an in-depth investigation of the company you plan to buy. Every business purchase transaction is unique, but some common considerations include:
Failing to properly investigate the company you want to buy could leave you with unexpected financial and legal problems – with costly losses after the fact. Your investigation may even reveal dealbreakers that lead you to ultimately walk away from the transaction. What Should Be Included in a Business Purchase Agreement? Your lawyer’s job is to draft a business purchase agreement that accurately reflects the terms of the deal as agreed between you and the seller. The document helps protect both the buyer and seller from legal and financial risks that may come up after the business sale. Your business purchase agreement should include:
You may have to file other paperwork in addition to executing your business purchase agreement. That could include updating secretary of state filings, changing the operating agreement, change in ownership forms for franchises, or resolutions authorizing the transaction from an entity’s board of directors or shareholders. Talk to a Philadelphia M&A Attorney Today No matter what industry you’re in or looking to get into, buying a business is a major undertaking with a lot at stake. You want to set yourself up for your best chance at success. That means taking stock of a great number of moving parts – financial, legal, and regulatory. An experienced business lawyer can help you pursue your goals with your best interests in mind. Every business venture is unique. Call the Holmes Business Law Philadelphia office today at 215-482-0285 to discuss your options with a business lawyer dedicated to your vision.
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AuthorSarah E. Holmes is a Philadelphia business attorney and strategist that helps start ups and established businesses looking to expand, protect their assets and increase their profits in an approachable, down-to-earth way. When you're looking for a business lawyer in Philadelphia, the Main Line or New Jersey, we can help. Categories
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February 2021
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