Attempts to buy a business opportunity will be viewed by most commercial borrowers as complex and confusing when seeking to arrange the working capital business loan. This is usually especially difficult if there is no commercial real estate as collateral for buying a business opportunity. Commercial borrowers should anticipate that business financing choices will be substantially different in comparison to a business acquisition that can be financed with a commercial real estate loan when buying a business opportunity that does not involve commercial property.
The comments and suggestions in this report reflect business financing conditions that are frequently offered by substantial lenders willing to provide a business loan to buy a business opportunity throughout most of the United States. There are likely to be circumstances in which a seller will privately fund the acquisition of a business opportunity, and it is not our intent to address those business loan possibilities in this report.
Buying a Business Opportunity - Length of Business Financing to Anticipate
Business financing conditions to buy a business opportunity will frequently involve a reduced amortization period compared to commercial mortgage financing. A maximum term of ten years is typical, and the business loan is likely to require a commercial lease equal to the length of the loan.
Likely Interest Rates to Buy a Business Opportunity
Commercial borrowers should anticipate business financing interest rates in the range of 11-12 percent to buy a business opportunity in the current interest rate climate. Because a rate of 10-11 percent is currently normal for commercial real estate financing, the rate for business opportunity borrowing should be viewed as quite reasonable. The commercial loan interest rate cost to purchase a small business opportunity is typically higher than the cost of a commercial real estate loan due to the absence of business property for collateral in a business opportunity purchase.
Down Payment Expectations to Buy a Business Opportunity
Depending on the specific type of business and some other issues, a normal down payment for a business loan to buy a business is 20 to 25 percent. Some seller financing (such as 10 percent) is usually helpful and in some cases might reduce the down payment required from the buyer to buy a business.
Refinancing Limitations to Anticipate When Buying a Business Opportunity
An important business financing factor to include in planning efforts when purchasing business opportunities is that refinancing the business opportunity financing conditions will typically be harder to deal with than the initial commercial loan. There are several new working capital loan programs under development that could significantly change future choices for business opportunity refinancing. Until these new business opportunity financing alternatives are available, it is advisable to obtain the best financing terms when the business is initially acquired and not rely upon future refinancing choices.
Buying a Business Opportunity - Lenders to Avoid
Perhaps the most important phase of the business loan process for buying a business opportunity is the selection of a commercial lender. In our view an even more critical stage of this process is avoiding certain lenders that are routinely unsuccessful in finalizing a business loan to buy a business.
Commercial borrowers are likely to avoid many other commercial financing difficulties usually involved with buying a business opportunity by eliminating problem lenders from consideration. Eliminating problematic lenders will be critical to the immediate success of the business financing efforts as well as to the future financial condition of the business being purchased.
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