Friends and Family: A Financing Option
The first job facing many prospective business owners is rounding up the cash necessary to make the purchase. They may find that banks have made borrowing difficult (or all but impossible), and that even SBA loans have requirements too stringent to meet. One viable option is obtaining financing from the seller; another is to seek help from family and friends.
Borrowing money from family members and/or friends is one of the most frequently-used methods of small business financing. The pluses are obvious–there is trust, familiarity, and a general comfort level when dealing with those you know. The drawbacks are self-evident as well: “doing business” with family and friends comes with cautionary notes of legendary proportions. Everybody knows that family ventures can be complex and stressful, stirring up “bad blood” and lingering ill will. However, by taking the right preventive steps, buyers can take advantage of friendly financial help.
1. Set up an informal meeting to introduce your ideas.
This is the time to “feel out” friends and relatives casually, being sure they understand that this is strictly a fact-finding (and fact-presenting) meeting. Anyone who is not interested or cannot afford to be involved has plenty of opportunity to say so without feeling obligated–or emotionally “blackmailed.”
2. Follow up with a professional business plan.
Those who have indicated interest should now be treated with utmost professionalism. A formal business plan, including detailed financials, and a carefully-drafted business contract should be presented at this subsequent gathering. Consult a business professional for help in establishing a schedule for repayment based on the appropriate interest rates. Nothing will inspire more confidence in lenders than the care taken with this vital paperwork.
3. Be clear about the structure of the business envisioned.
How much voice are investors to have in the business? This is a vital question. Be sure that all parties understand whether this is to be a simple investment or some sort of partnership, and put this agreement in writing.
4. Take care in identifying your borrowing “targets.”
Sometimes willing and eager family members can’t really afford to invest. If possible, try to spread the borrowing around so that no one person bears the crux of the loan. It may take more energy to get smaller amounts from a larger circle of people, but the safety factors for all concerned will more than compensate for the time spent.
5. Keep your investors involved.
Once the buyer becomes an owner and the new business is in operation, friends and family lenders are due more than their repayment. They will want to be informed and updated about the progress of the business. Keeping in touch is a cost-free way to return the vote of confidence your friendly investors have placed in you.
Venture Financing: The Hard Facts
Government financing and venture capital financing account for less than one percent of all new business financing. Sixty-seven percent of all small to mid-sized businesses are financed by personal savings or friends; thirty-three percent are financed by lending institutions. The facts about venture capital financing are especially cold and hard…
- Venture capital is limited to high-growth potential, high capital-absorbing businesses.
- Venture capital benefits as few as 1000 businesses a year, and then…
- The average investment is $2.3 million, divided between 3-4 venture capital funds, which take 40-50-60 percent or more of the business’s equity.
- Venture capital investors expect the business to grow to $25-50 million within 5 years–at which time the business will go public or be sold.
Key Items Necessary for Selling a Business
- Three years of profit and loss statements
- Federal taxes for the same three years
- Current list of fixtures and equipment
- The lease and related documents
- Franchise agreement (if applicable)
- List of encumbrances, loans, equipment leases, etc.
- Approximate amount of inventory on hand
- Names of outside advisors with contact information
- Marketing materials, catalogs, promotional pieces, etc.
- Operations Manual (if available)
- Brief history of business
What Makes a Business Unique
Most business owners think that their business is unique. There are obviously many different attributes that can make a business stand out from others. However, there are some key factors that make a business both unique and, at the same time, make it more valuable in the marketplace and more desirable by prospective purchasers. Just as importantly, these unique factors also need to be generally transferable to a new owner. Here are some key ones:
Intangible Assets
One example of an intangible asset could be a long-term lease for a great location that is transferable to a new owner. Other examples include a mailing list of current and past customers, a popular franchise relationship, a well-known product line such as Hallmark, or a well-established mailing program designed to attract new customers or clients. Trademarks and copyrights are some other examples of intangible assets.
Difficulty of Replication
For example, in most jurisdictions, liquor licenses are doled out by population or on some other limited basis. One can not just decide to rent some space and open a liquor store. Franchises often limit the number of units in a geographical area. Selling certain brand collectibles is a license not granted to just any store.
Proprietary Products, Services or Technology
A business owner may have developed, or have had developed, software unique to their business which is a key to its success. Or the proprietary item could be something as simple as a secret recipe for a food item, sauce or other food product unique to a restaurant.
Reputation
There is the pharmacy that is known all over town for delivering prescriptions or other medical needs. And there is the hardware store that will still sharpen knives or fix screens. Then there are the local businesses that have “just what you need” or that special something that makes them known all over town. While these characteristics make these businesses unique, it is up to a new owner to continue them.
When looking at businesses to buy, buyers should look beyond the numbers for the unique qualities that separate a particular business from the pack.
Read MoreAre You Serious?
There are three good questions to consider before selling your business.
First, “Do you really want to sell this business?” If you’re really serious about selling and have a solid reason (or reasons) why you want to sell, it will most likely happen.
Second, “Do you have reasonable expectations?” You increase your chances of selling if you can answer “yes” to this second question. This can include your expectations about the selling price, the time it will take to sell your business, and the amount of seller financing you are willing to offer.
Third, “What will you do once your business sells?” The time to consider this is before you place your business on the market. This may seem obvious, but many transactions fall through because the business owner did not consider what he or she would do once the business was sold.
A “yes” answer to the first two questions plus having an answer to the third question (other than “I don’t know”) means you are serious about selling.
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