Should You Knowingly Overpay For A Business?

I remember growing up hearing from sellers the following sales pitch for why I should pay them top dollar.” You can get fresh oats for a fair price or you can get oats that have gone through the cow for a lot cheaper.” The other one I heard was “Quality remains long after price is forgotten.”  After 20 years of being a business broker, I have heard every justification in the world for why this owner’s business is special and deserve a price at top market.

The difficulty for a buyer is two fold. The asking prices are presupposing that the report sales and profit are applicable for this time frame, not the civil war. Ninety percent of the time the profit is a lie, which makes the asking price unimportant. For the remaining ten percent, where the profit and sales figures are accurate and based on the current month’s numbers, the profit level becomes critical. If it is a small profit, and only affords the owner a low wage, it is stupid to pay too much just for a job. If the profit is substantial and more then the buyer needs, it might actually make sense to pay top dollar or even more. .

The reason is that in this economic climate, the numbers of businesses making a desirable profit are so small that if you can find one of those “keepers” it is worth paying a premium to get it. If you over pay at least the business profit can support the extra cost and when all the loans are paid off the price will be forgotten. Of course, if you are lied to about the numbers, then any price you pay is too much. The reason the sellers lie is because they know that if they told you the truth you would not buy the business at any price or at a price so low the seller figures he might as well just keep it.

So first make sure you have the business reviewed in and out and upside down. Put it through the audit from hell, and if it still looks after that, you may have found a diamond. In those rare cases, consider paying what you must, in order to not let that good one, get away.

About The Author:  Willard Michlin, CPA offers business buyers Due Diligence Services (Second Opinion, Offer Assistance, Final Due Diligence) when they are thinking of making an offer on a business or in the process of investigating a business purchase. Serving all of Southern California. He has written numerous articles on the due diligence process and can be reached direct at 805-428-2063 for more information and an appointment.

Posted on December 5, 2011  |   Email This Blog Post   |   Print This Blog Post   |  All Contributions From Willard Michlin, CPA, CFE