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Posted on April 14, 2009

Contributed by Jonathan Smith

Deal Pre-Qualification Before Selling A Business


In today’s ever changing financial markets it is now more important than ever to pre-qualify a listing long before you have a potential business buyer.  Allowing a finance expert to review the business listing will not only help when you start speaking with prospective buyers but it will also help speed up the funding process. 

A finance expert will be able to show what potential roadblocks or hurdles you will likely face simply by doing a quick review of the business.  They will also most likely be willing to guide you through the process of overcoming the hurdles to ensure a smooth path to funding. 

It is best to have these obstacles figured out before the lender is making a decision on approval as it may be too late at that point and kill the transaction.  A day at the beginning of the sales process can save you weeks in the end, the best part is it doesn’t cost you anything.

Here are the items needed to get a deal (seller) pre-qualified:

1.  3 years previous business tax returns

2.  3 years of previous financials - P&L's, balance sheet

3.  Current copy of the lease

4.  Business Profile of business - (company history, financial pro-formas, etc.)

About The Author:  Jonathan Smith is a financing/loan broker, consultant who assists with larger loan amounts ($500K to $5M) - SBA loans, conventional financing, and private lenders for business purchase financing. We works with business buyers, owner/sellers, business brokers, and agents. For assistance with business purchase financing options phone him direct at 888-859-9838.

Watch for more blog posts / articles from me in the future!

See all contributions from Jonathan Smith

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Comments:

Your suggestion is to put a copy of the lease in with the papers for the lender. What if the bank doesn't like the lease because it's soon going to expire. Or what if there is no promise the same lease will be given to the buyer? Maybe seller should get a new lease that can be transferred. Then show that when pre-qualifying the business. I think landladies are easier to deal with now that businesses are not doing as well.

Posted by: Lyla L.

Good advice. It makes business easier to sell if seller shows that the bank is behind it.

Posted by: Lawrence Ing

I understand that banks, not to mention potential buyers, like to see a marketing plan for a business so that the new owner will have some ideas, passed on from the seller, for expanding. In theory, that means the new owner, if successful in building sales (and profits), will be even better able to pay off any loans taken on in the course of buying the business. An operating manual that the seller has for the business is also useful. It shows that the seller has thought through how the operation can be run efficiently. Presence of a "How to Run This Business" manual reassures lenders and buyers that the business has been professionally managed.

Posted by: David H.

These are important items to get a business pre-qualified for some funding when a buyer is found. I also like to suggest to sellers that they include a list of assets, such as capital equipment and inventory. Any lender will want to know what the business has that's of value to offer as collateral.

Posted by: Alex Max


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