Posts contributed by Peter Siegel, MBA

Questions regarding earn outs in deal structures is starting to come up a lot these days. "Answers To Viewers Questions" section of the BizBen Blog we explore answers to the question, "Is this a good time for buyers and sellers to use "earn outs" so if the business value has slipped because of the economy, the seller stands to gain when things get better, and the buyer can get a good business at today's discounted price, then pay for its recovered value from proceeds of the business? Also, how do you recommend structuring the earn out" See what our panel of professionals and viewer comments have said to answer this question about some mistakes buyers of small businesses make.

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 Categories: Answers To Viewers Questions, BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, Deal And Escrow Issues

The total of 13,948 small and mid-sized businesses sold in California during 20ll represents an increase from the 13,329 deals completed the prior year. But a comparison shows a decline in activity during the last quarter of 2011 vs. the final three months of 2010.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business For Sale Statistics

The new decade brings a new set of realities for individuals who want to know how to buy a California small business for sale from a business broker or an owner. Peter Siegel, Founder of BizBen.com and USABizMart.com explains.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business

Unlike many small businesses, due to strict regulations there are many steps that you must take before you can consider buying a liquor store. Peter Siegel with BizBen discusses the seven steps will put you on the right track to buy a liquor store legally.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Buyer Experiences, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business, Small Business Issues

Financing a business purchase has become more difficult in the past couple of years. But buyers and sellers of small and mid-sized businesses are finding other ways to raise the money needed to complete their transactions. BizBuyFinancing.com Founder Peter Siegel, MBA explains this topic.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Purchase Financing, How To Buy A Business

The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) is a comprehensive document every franchisor is required to process and keep current. Peter Siegel, MBA explains UFOC's.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Franchises For Sale

A question sellers ask: how do I sell my business without getting sued, isn't a subject just for discussions with lawyers. A seller can take some precautions to reduce potential legal problems. Peter Siegel with BizBen.com discusses this topic.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, How To Sell A Business,

Looking to buy gas stations? Consider these five questions first to buy gas stations the smart way, saving lots of money and headaches. Peter Siegel, MBA discusses this topic on the BizBen.com Blog.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Buyer Experiences, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business

The number of small California businesses sold in October was 30% ahead of September 2011 figures, and down less than 6% compared to the same month last year according to the BizBen Index. Improvement in market activity seems to be taking hold, but it's not an easy recovery.

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BizBen searchers looking to buy a business found a Christmas lighting service, a matchmaking company, golf products manufacturer, and several types of restaurants. See what searchers found most interesting on BizBen.com yesterday.

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 Categories: BizBen Top 20, Buying A Business

Buying a liquor store? First, ask yourself these three critical questions to find out if owning a liquor store is right for you. Peter Siegel, MBA with BizBen.com explores this topic.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business

The idea to have a buying a business checklist follows the adage that it's always useful to start with a plan when searching to buy a small business for sale. Peter Siegel, MBA Founder of both BizBen.com and BizBuyFinancing.com suggest six items for all business buyers.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Purchase Financing, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business, Small Business Financing

Successful business sellers need a game plan to sell their California small business for maximum price and for the best terms. Peter Siegel, MBA discusses these strategies with BizBen Blog readers.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, How To Sell A Business, Selling A Business

As a consultant I talk to many California business owners, brokers, and agents on a daily basis about valuing businesses. Peter Siegel, MBA with BizBen.com talks about key factors in pricing a business for sale in the California marketplace.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Valuation Issues, How To Sell A Business

BizBen viewers top search requests on BizBen.com included a Oakland Gas Station/C-Store, a San Diego Car Audio Shop, a Laguna Hills Pizza Parlor, a San Marcos Internet, Wholesaler, a Cypress Arco Am/PM, as some of the more popular California small and mid-sized businesses for sale that were added and reviewed by business buyers, business brokers, agents, intermediaries, and business owners yesterday on BizBen.com.

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 Categories: BizBen Top 20

Peter Siegel, MBA Founder of BizBen and the BizBen Network discusses interpreting reported earnings from sellers through tax returns, financial statements and other means when selling a California small business.

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 Categories: Business Valuation Issues, How To Buy A Business, How To Sell A Business, Selling A Business

It might be the most tedious thing you do when buying or selling a small California business for sale, but conducting inventory - counting out the items that are sold or used in running the business is absolutely essential. Peter Siegel, MBA founder of BizBen.com discusses this topic.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business, How To Sell A Business, Selling A Business

Small business owners should keep the fact that they want to sell their business confidential. Before releasing information to prospective buyers, those buyers should commit to confidentiality in writing and should understand why it is important.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, How To Sell A Business, Selling A Business

Some entrepreneurs believe it's better to start a business from scratch rather than buy an existing enterprise. While this may be good advice in some cases, usually it's not the best strategy. Here are five tips to help a buyer make the right decision.

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 Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, Buying A Business, How To Buy A Business

Do you add the inventory value to the business value? Should the owner be expected to take back a note for the value of the inventory? BizBen Users give feedback to this question.

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 Categories: Answers To Viewers Questions, BizBen Blog Contributor, Business Broker Issues, Deal And Escrow Issues, How To Buy A Business