ServicesBuy a Business
Buy a Business in Taylor, TX
Buying a running business beats starting from zero, but only if what you buy has been kept up. We help you find listings, read the books, look at the equipment and leases, and close a deal you can keep running for years.
Buying What Is Already Working
An established business comes with customers, staff, equipment and a track record. That is what you pay for. The question is how well the last owner took care of it. A shop with worn equipment, an expiring lease or one key employee holding everything together can cost you a lot in the first year.
We work with buyers at our office or by phone and video. We show you listings that fit your budget and skills, help you ask the right questions, and point out the upkeep a business will need before you make an offer. We have been part of over $5 million in businesses sold, and we bring what we learned on those deals to your search.
Registered buyers see new listings first. If you want a business that is already set up as a franchise, our Franchise Resales page covers that side.
What We Do for Buyers
- Matching you to listings
- We talk through your budget, your experience and how hands-on you want to be. Then we show you businesses that fit, not everything on the market.
- Reading the financials
- We go over tax returns, profit and loss statements and owner add-backs with you. You should know what the business really earns for its owner, not just what the top line says.
- Checking upkeep and condition
- We help you look at the age of the equipment, the vehicles and the building condition. Deferred upkeep is a cost you inherit, so it belongs in the offer.
- Lease and staff questions
- How many years are left on the lease, and can it be assigned to you? Will the key employees stay? We help you get clear answers before closing.
- Offer and deal terms
- We help you write a letter of intent and work out terms like seller training, a transition period and how inventory gets counted at closing.
- Financing direction
- Most buyers use some mix of cash, a bank or SBA loan and seller financing. Our Acquisition Financing Guidance page goes deeper on this.
Signs You Are Ready to Buy
You want income sooner
A startup can take years to turn a profit. A running business has cash flow from day one if you keep it going.
You have money set aside
You have savings or equity for a down payment and some working capital left over. Lenders will want to see both.
You know a trade or industry
Your experience lines up with a type of business. That makes it easier to judge what is worth buying and easier to get financing.
You have looked and felt lost
You found listings online but could not tell which numbers were real. That is the point where a second set of eyes pays off.
You want to add to what you own
You already run a business and want to buy a competitor or a related company. Our Mergers and Acquisitions page covers larger combinations.
What Moves the Price of a Business
Most small businesses sell based on what they earn for the owner, adjusted for risk. Two businesses with the same sales can sell for very different amounts. Here is what pushes the number up or down. On our end, there is no retainer and nothing tucked into the fine print, and our fee is earned only once a seller is paid.
Steady owner earnings
Three years of clean, steady profit is worth more than one big year. Buyers and lenders pay for income they can count on.
Condition of equipment
Well-kept equipment and vehicles hold value. If big items need replacing soon, that cost should come off the price.
Lease or real estate
A long, assignable lease adds value. If the building is part of the sale, see our Business and Property Sales page.
How much depends on the owner
A business that runs on systems and trained staff is worth more than one where the owner does everything.
Inventory and deal terms
Inventory is often counted and added at closing. Seller financing and the length of the training period also shape the final deal.
How Buying Works With Us
- 1
Start with a conversation
We talk by phone or meet at our office. You tell us what you want to own and what you can spend. There is no charge for this first talk.
- 2
Register and review listings
You sign a confidentiality agreement so sellers can share real details. Then we send you listings that fit, with new ones going to registered buyers first.
- 3
Look closely at one business
We help you review the books, visit the business and meet the owner. We make a list of what needs attention, from aging equipment to a short lease.
- 4
Make an offer and check it out
We help you put your offer in a letter of intent and present it to the seller. During due diligence you and your accountant or attorney confirm the numbers and contracts before anything is final.
- 5
Close and take over
We help coordinate the closing with the seller, the lender and the attorneys. The seller usually stays on for a set training period so customers and staff stay with you.
Questions Buyers Ask
Do I need a lot of cash to buy a business?
Usually less than people think, but you need some. Many deals combine a down payment, a bank or SBA loan and a seller note. You will also want working capital left after closing so you are not short in the first few months.
How do I know the numbers are real?
You compare the seller's figures against tax returns and bank statements during due diligence. We help you spot owner add-backs that do not hold up. We also suggest you have your own accountant look before you close.
What should I look at besides the financials?
Look at the upkeep. Check how old the equipment is, when the lease ends, and whether key staff plan to stay. A business that has been kept up will cost you less to keep running.
Will the seller help after I buy?
Most sellers agree to a training and transition period. The length is set in the deal terms. It is worth asking for, because it helps keep customers and employees through the change.
Do you only show businesses in Taylor?
No. We work with buyers looking in Taylor and around the area, including Hutto, Round Rock, Georgetown and Elgin. Tell us where you want to be and we will show you what fits.
Find a Business Worth Keeping
Tell us what you want to own and what you can spend. We will walk you through current listings and what to check before you make an offer.