Steve Bush asked: Buying a business investment without real estate requires specialized business opportunity financing. Although this kind of business financing is available, there are several potential problems which should be anticipated and avoided by prospective buyers.
In order to buy a business, a commercial borrower is likely to need business financing. If the business includes commercial real estate, the borrower will need a commercial mortgage. If the business purchase does not involve real estate, a business borrower must use a business opportunity loan.
When obtaining a business opportunity loan, borrowers will discover that many lenders simply do not provide business loans that do not include real estate as part of the business purchase. There are several other important business financing issues to analyze prior to buying a business without commercial property.
The level of interest for buying a business opportunity investment has increased due to the reduction of activity involving residential real estate investing. However, because there are so many critical differences between financing residential real estate and business financing, it is important for potential business owners to educate themselves before proceeding.
This summary is designed to address the unique business financing requirements involved when real estate is not involved. Our suggested approach to business opportunity financing is provided below.
Prospective business owners should begin business opportunity investment financing plans by formulating a realistic assessment of cash available for a down payment and desired maximum business purchase price. In most business financing scenarios, a total down payment approximating 25% of the purchase price is advisable. Usually seller financing is permissible for a portion of the down payment, but a potential buyer generally needs to plan on investing a minimum of 10% or more of the purchase price from their own funds even if the seller is providing 20% or more.
Purchasers should evaluate whether a Small Business Administration loan is relevant for their particular business financing and investing circumstances. This step is both important and somewhat complicated, and the involvement of an SBA loan expert is strongly advised. Among the issues to explore are whether collateral is available for SBA financing and how important refinancing is to your overall business opportunity financing process.
Buyers should make an early determination concerning the length of lease to be arranged in conjunction with buying the business. As noted previously, business opportunity financing and investing does not involve the purchase of commercial real estate, so arrangements must be made for a long-term lease. The length of the lease is important because the normal business finance terms will restrict the length of business financing to the period covered by the lease (although buyers should anticipate a ten-year maximum for investment business loans). For example, with a seven-year lease, the commercial loan is likely to be for seven years, and even with a fifteen-year lease, the commercial financing will probably expire in ten years.
Even though real estate is not included in a business opportunity transaction, buyers should nevertheless investigate whether including real estate is a viable option or not in order to buy a business. With the inclusion of commercial property, you can obtain a longer business loan and the interest rate will be lower. However, improved business financing terms should not be the sole factor you look at, since the absence of a commercial mortgage can prove to be a significant advantage in a declining real estate market that currently exists in many areas of the country.
Investors and buyers should discuss business finance options with a business opportunity loan expert before making any offers to buy a business investment. These discussions should include issues such as down payment possibilities, potential purchase price, seller financing, tax return requirements, buyer credit scores and collateral options.
As a final precautionary note, in most circumstances the availability of business opportunity financing is more restricted than commercial real estate financing. There are also some problems unique to business opportunity loans, and commercial borrowers should make every effort to avoid these potential business financing complications.
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