Business Loan Strategies to Buy a Business Opportunity

By: Stephen A. Bush

Buying a business opportunity is likely to be an extremely challenging task when arranging the business loan. This is largely due to the usual lack of commercial property as collateral for the business financing to buy a business opportunity. When buying a business that does not include commercial real estate, business borrowers need to realize that business loan options will be greatly reduced in comparison to a business purchase that can be financed with a commercial mortgage.

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.

Length of Business Loan to Expect When Buying a Business Opportunity

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

In the current business loan interest rate environment, the likely range for buying a business opportunity is 11 to 12 percent. To put this in perspective, it is not unusual for a commercial mortgage to be in the 10 to 11 percent range. The cost of business financing to buy a business is routinely higher than the cost of a commercial mortgage due to the lack of commercial property for lender collateral in a business opportunity transaction.

Down Payment Expectations to Buy a Business Opportunity

Although there will be variations based on the type of business and several other factors, a common down payment requirement for a commercial loan to buy a small business opportunity is 20-25 percent. The presence of seller financing might lessen the down payment needed to acquire a small business opportunity.

Buying a Business Opportunity - Refinancing Options

A related business loan issue to anticipate when buying a business is that refinancing the business opportunity loan terms will normally be even more difficult than the original business financing. There are currently some new business loan programs in the final stages of development that could dramatically improve future refinancing options. But until these new business financing options are finalized, it is important to arrange the best possible terms initially and not depend upon refinancing possibilities.

Lenders to Avoid When Commercial Borrowers Buy a Business Opportunity

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.

By eliminating such problem lenders, business borrowers will also be in a better position to avoid many other business loan problems typically experienced when buying a business. The proactive approach to avoid problem lenders can have dual benefits because it will contribute to both the long-term financial condition of the business being acquired and the ultimate success of the commercial loan process.

Copyright 2005-2007 AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: Loan Info Center

About S.A. Bush: Steve provides candid working capital and commercial mortgage advice. Free AEX series of Working Capital Loan and Church Loan reports
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