|
Certainly construction home loan spec information is
important to helping you succeed in your business. Here are some
resources to help you along the way:
5 Key Components Of A Small Business Acquisition Loan
By Brent Finlay
Qualifying for a small acquisition loan can be quite an ordeal to say the least.
If the being sold is very profitable, the selling price will likely reflect a significant amount of goodwill which can be very difficult to finance.
If the being sold is not making money, lenders can be difficult to find even if the underlying assets being acquired are worth substantially more than the purchase price.
Business acquisition loans, or change of control financing situations, can be extremely varied from case to case.
That being said, here are the major challenges you'll typically have to overcome to secure a small acquisition loan.
>>> Financing Goodwill
The definition of goodwill is the sale price minus the resale or liquidation value of assets after any debts owing on the assets are paid off. It represents the future profit the is expected to generate beyond the current value of the assets.
Most lenders have no interest in financing goodwill.
This effectively increases the amount of the down payment required to complete the sale and/or the acquisition of some financing from the vendor in the form of a vendor loan.
Vendor support and Vendor loans are a very common elements in the sale of a small business.
If they are not initially present in the conditions of sale, you may want to ask the vendor if they would consider providing support and financing.
There are some excellent reasons why asking the question could be well worth your time.
In order to receive the maximum possible sale price, which likely involves some amount of goodwill, the vendor will agree to finance part of the sale by allowing the buyer to pay a portion of the sale price over a defined period of time within a structured payment schedule.
The vendor may also offer transition assistance for a period of time to make sure the transition period is seamless.
The combination of support and financing by the vendor creates a positive vested interest whereby it is in the vendor's best interest to help the buyer successfully transition all aspects of ownership and operations.
Failure to do so could result in the vendor not getting all the proceeds of sale in the future in the event the were to suffer or fail under new ownership.
This is usually a very
Making Your Home Business Legal
7 Great Reasons To Start An Office Cleaning Business
How To Build a Business With Attitude
The Misunderstood Marketing Method
Telecommuter's Guide To Safe Job Hunting
appealing aspect to potential lenders as the risk of loss due to transition is greatly reduced.
This speaks directly to the next financing challenge.
>>> Business Transition Risk
Will the new owner be able to run the as well as the previous owner? Will the customers still do with the new owner? Did the previous owner possess a specific skill set that will be difficult to replicate or replace? Will the key employees remain with the company after the sale?
A lender must be confident that the can successfully continue at no worse than the current level of performance. There usually needs to be a buffer built into the financial projections for changeover lags that can occur.
At the same time, many buyers will purchase a because they believe there is substantial growth available which they think they can take advantage of.
The key is convincing the lender of the growth potential and your ability to achieve superior results.
>>> Asset Sale Versus Share Sale
For tax purposes, many sellers want to sell the shares of their business.
However, by doing so, any outstanding and potential future liability related to the going concern will fall at the feet of the buyer unless othewise indicated in the purchase and sale agreement.
Because potential liability is a difficult thing to evaluate, there can be a higher perceived risk when considering a small acquisition loan application related to a share purchase.
>>> Market Risk
Is the in a growing, mature, or declining market segment? How does the fit into the competitive dynamics of the market and will a change in control strengthen or weaken its competitive position?
A lender needs to be confident that the can be successful for at least the period the acquisition loan will be outstanding.
This is important for two reasons. First, a sustained cash flow will obviously allow a smoother process of repayment. Second, a strong going concern has a higher probability of resale.
If an unforeseen event causes the owner to no longer be able to carry on the business, the lender will have confidence that the can still generate enough profit from resale to retire the outstanding debt.
Localized markets are much easier for a lender or investor to assess than a selling to a broader geographic reach. Area based lenders may also have some working knowledge of the particular and how prominent it is in the local market.
>>> Personal Net Worth
Most acquisition loans require the buyer to be able to invest at least a third of the total purchase price in cash with a remaining tangible net worth at least equal to the remaining value of the loan.
Statistics show that over leveraged companies are more prone to suffer financial duress and default on their acquisition loan commitments.
The larger the amount of the acquisition loan required, the more likely the probability of default.
Brent Finlay makes it easy to understanding business financing. Learn how to locate and secure proper financing for your business. To receive your free 6 part mini-course visit the business finance specialist website
|
