Business Financing Alternatives to Buy a Business Opportunity

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 guidelines and comments in this article are based upon business loan terms that are typically available from respected lenders willing to provide business financing for buying a business opportunity throughout the United States. There will always be occasional situations in which the seller is willing to privately finance the purchase of a business opportunity, and it is not practical to discuss those business financing possibilities in this article.

Business Loan to Buy a Business Opportunity - Length of Loan

When purchasing a business opportunity, commercial loan terms will almost always include a reduced amortization period in comparison to a commercial real estate loan. A business loan term of ten years is normal, and that length of loan is likely to be tied to a requirement that the commercial lease will not expire before the loan matures.

Expected Interest Rate Costs for Buying a Business Opportunity

The likely range to buy a business opportunity is 11 to 12 percent in the present commercial loan interest rate circumstances. This is a reasonable level for business opportunity borrowing since it is not unusual for a commercial real estate loan to be in the 10-11 percent area. Because of the lack of commercial property for lender collateral in a small business opportunity transaction, the cost of a business loan to acquire a business is routinely higher than the cost of a commercial property loan.

Buying a Business Opportunity - Normal Down Payment Requirement

Depending on the specific type of business and some other issues, a normal down payment for a business loan to buy a business is 20 to 25 percent. Some seller financing (such as 10 percent) is usually helpful and in some cases might reduce the down payment required from the buyer to buy a business.

Refinancing Alternatives After Buying a Business Opportunity

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.

Avoiding Problem Lenders When Buying a Business Opportunity

The selection of a commercial lender might be the most important phase of the business financing process for buying a business. An equally important task is avoiding lenders that are unable to finalize a commercial loan for buying a business.

Commercial borrowers are likely to avoid many other commercial financing difficulties usually involved with buying a business opportunity by eliminating problem lenders from consideration. Eliminating problematic lenders will be critical to the immediate success of the business financing efforts as well as to the future financial condition of the business being purchased.

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About the author: Stephen Bush provides credit card processing and commercial loan advice. Free series of Business Loan and Working Capital reports.