buying a business

Buying Part of a Business: Is it Worth It?

Jenny SmedraLeave a comment

Buying Part of a Business

When seeking to continue to build your financial portfolio, adding investments is one idea that many choose to pursue. One way that such investments are typically made is by buying part of a business. Buying into an existing business means that you become one of the main stakeholders, owning a portion of the business itself. While this is something that is done frequently, business owners are often unaware of the many factors that are related to making this significant financial decision. Here are a few serious considerations before buying part of a business.

The Rewards of Buying a Business

Of course, buying part of a business may sound overwhelming, but there are many factors that make it a beneficial decision.

  1. There is an established company client base. One of the benefits of owning part of an established business is that the client base is already set. A new business has to attract customers and build a group of returning clients. However, one that is already functioning will have this taken care of. This will allow the business owners to focus more on customer service, client retention, and increasing the number of clients.
  2. You have greater ease of expansion. If you happen to buy part of a business that is looking to expand, it will be much easier with a company that has already made a name for itself. Look to see if the company has a good reputation and gets good feedback from its clients. It’s also easier to get an unsecured small business loan for expansion when the company has a proven track record of sales.
  3. You can focus on business improvements. You may like challenges and, thus, purchase part of a business that requires a few changes to improve. Luckily, the company should have a plan of operation in place. Then, you can focus on how to improve it for the company’s overall success.
  4. You have access to current owners’ knowledge. One of the greatest advantages of buying part of a business is that the current owners will be very familiar with the company. They can show you what has and hasn’t worked for business operations thus far. You, equipped with this knowledge, can then come up with innovative ideas to benefit the business.

The Risks of Buying a Business

As there are many pros to buying part of an existing business, there are just as many risks of shared ownership of a company. It is best to keep these factors in mind as you make your decision.

  1. You disagree with the current owners’ practices. It would be an absolute nightmare to purchase part of a business where the owners mismanaged funds. Upon learning more about a business you may want to purchase part of, be sure to research all financial records.
  2. The company has a bad reputation. Good use of customer feedback is to learn how the company fares amongst past clients. A company with a bad reputation will likely struggle with being successful.
  3. It has high turnover. In addition to clients being indicative of a company’s progress, the employees can serve the same purpose. It is a red flag if there have been numerous employees during the business’ lifespan, especially due to multiple resignations. This would be something to keep in mind as a problem area if you decide to take on the company.
  4. There are differences between owners. If the current owners are not open to change or new ideas, you could run into difficulties. You may meet resistance trying to take the company to the next level in terms of expansion, increasing profits, or employee and client satisfaction.

Checklist Before Buying Part of Business

Before you make any large purchases or investments, you should always do your homework. The Westmoreland Checklist of Due Diligence provides a great set of guidelines as you vet out potential investment options.

First and foremost you want to make sure the company is in good standing with government, financial, and community organizations. This includes issues about all the companies operations. It means you should look at all the company’s financial information. This includes everything from permits and tax compliance to its reputation with employees and clients.

The choice to buy part of a company should only be made after carefully considering all factors, good and bad, that are involved. It can also be helpful to seek the help of a business adviser who can answer your questions and give guidance as you take this big step.

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