About This Blog
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Peter Siegel, MBA is a nationally known consultant and author - with over 25 years experience on the topic of selling, buying, and niche financing (the purchase of), small to mid-sized businesses. His clients include: business buyers, business owners/sellers, small business advisors, and business brokers. |
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This Blog contains observations, tips, news, events, and case studies relating to selling or buying a small business. |
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This Blog is ideal for business buyers, business owners, advisors, business brokers & agents. |
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Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent those of BizBen. |
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Opinions expressed here do not constitute legal advice. Those interested in specific guidance for legal matters should seek competent professional advice. |
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Posts tagged 'small business'
The following posts are associated with the 'small business' tag.
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Results 1 - 30 of 161 |
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Posted on November 4, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Sales Of California Small Businesses Make Gains In October
The number of small and mid-market California business sold in October increased substantially from the figures posted for the past few months. We hope this marks the beginning of an upward trend into the rest of the year and in 2010. Read more about recent trends and view actual sales numbers from October 2009.
Posted at 7:32am | 1 Comment
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Posted on October 28, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Buying A Carwash: Three Types To Consider
One of the most popular business offerings is the carwash. It’s considered easy to run, the number of cars on the road continues to increase, while it doesn’t seem that carwash installations are being added to keep pace. Peter Siegel with BizBen chats about buying a carwash.
Posted at 8:23am | 4 Comments
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Posted on October 26, 2009 Contributed by Jonathan Smith
SBA Loan Update: Global Cash Flow Requirements & Issues
Over the past few months one of the most challenges aspects of acquisition financing to overcome has been fulfilling the Global Cash Flow requirements. In years past most lenders would look at an acquisition to see if the business itself could support the debt being taken out for the purchase, support the ongoing business expenses and they really didn’t look at the other financial obligations of the new owner. Jonathan Smith - SBA Loan Consultant For Business Purchases - looks into this issue for BizBen Blog readers.
Posted at 8:41am | 2 Comments
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Posted on October 26, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Selling A Business: FREE Online Webinar For Owners - 10/28
70% of all small and mid-sized businesses never sell when they are put on the market. Selling a business is not like selling a piece of real estate or any other type of asset. This webinar is designed for small and mid-sized owners who are thinking of selling their business and need to know how to prepare and follow-through the right way to successfully value and sell their business. Selecting the right business broker or agent is also critical for this process and we will explore what to look for in an intermediary and what you should expect from them. This FREE webinar is designed for business owners of small and mid-sized businesses and is presented by Peter Siegel.
Posted at 7:24am | 0 Comments
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Posted on October 14, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Is Inventory Value Part Of, Or Added To The Price For A Retail Related Business?
Here’s a question posed to our panel of experts that brings up one of the more difficult issues that must be addressed when a retail store is being sold. "How do you handle the inventory amount in the valuation and price of a retail based small business? If the inventory value is high compared to the "value " of the business by itself: 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? Our industry panel of experts respond with answers.
Posted at 7:03am | 6 Comments
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Posted on October 13, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Want To Be In Business For Yourself? Take This Test
If you have that American dream about being self employed, perhaps by buying a small business for sale, you should know that not everyone is suited for a career as an entrepreneur. Before taking the steps toward business ownership, you can ask yourself three questions designed to help reveal whether you have the characteristics needed to be successful as your own boss.
Posted at 8:16am | 5 Comments
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Posted on October 8, 2009 Contributed by Bob Klein
Showing Your Business: Tips For Business Buyer Visits
Showing your business when selling is one of the most important steps in the sale process and how it is done will greatly effect the selling price. There are two areas to be concerned with, how the business looks and how you react to the prospective buyer. Bob Klein with Business Appraisals discusses this topic with BizBen readers.
Posted at 8:15am | 4 Comments
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Posted on October 8, 2009 Contributed by Steve Fitzgerald
San Diego Workshop: What’s My Business Worth in Today’s Market? 11/11
Steve FitzGerald, a San Diego business broker is presenting his next San Diego workshop: What’s My Business Worth in Today’s Market? He will provide information on how to ascertain a realistic valuation range on your business, whether in good times or bad. He will also cover recent changes to the availability of credit to business owners as well as buyers looking to purchase a business. This workshop is free, but participants must RSVP.
Posted at 7:25am | 0 Comments
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Posted on October 7, 2009 Contributed by Joe Sandbank
Scam Alert: Warning to Corporations and LLCs
The California Corporations code requires corporations and limited liability companies file initial and annual Statements of Information identifying the organization's management (directors, officers, managing members, etc.) and agent for service of process. Scammers are taking advantage of this situation and misleading small business owners. Attorney Joe Sandbank discusses what you should watch out for with these solicitations.
Posted at 8:17am | 1 Comment
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Posted on October 6, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
SBA Sees Boost in Lending to Small Businesses
The money needed to help individuals buy small businesses or to enable small business owners to expand their companies is becoming more available after the severe credit freeze that impacted the economy during the end of 2008 and the first part 2009. The SBA announced that loans to businesses totaled $1.9 billion in September, the highest monthly sum since August 2007.
Posted at 8:41am | 1 Comment
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Posted on September 29, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Experts Panel: Creative Solutions For Florist Seller
Our BizBen Panel of Experts was consulted on a problem posed by a visitor to our site, who asked what to do about selling her flower shop, considering that she has a manager who is interested in buying it and would be good at running it, but lacks the funds to make that happen.
Posted at 9:03am | 6 Comments
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Posted on September 22, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
SBA Hiking Goodwill Limit Imposed on Business Purchases
SBA Hiking Goodwill Limit Imposed on Business Purchases Yielding to pressures from some Small Business Administration-approved lenders and much of the business community, the SBA has announced it will boost the limit it imposed on the amount of goodwill that can be included in a business purchased with borrowed funds.
Posted at 9:41am | 4 Comments
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Posted on September 21, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Add Backs: What Is for Real When Reviewing Financials?
The use of “add backs” is common among sellers of small and mid-sized businesses when showing their financials and explaining that the buyer will actually enjoy more profit than is shown. But buyers are cautioned to watch out for “add backs” that are actual expenses pretending to be owner benefits.
Posted at 8:33am | 2 Comments
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Posted on September 18, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Future Listing and Sales Activities: Predictions & Opinions From Industry Experts
Concluding one of the slowest summers in memory, in terms of the number of completed deals and new listing activity (total August 2009 sales of 997 businesses represented a 40% drop compared to the 1,722 deals concluded in August, 2008), we wondered if the fall will bring more activity to California’s market of small and mid-sized businesses for sale. So, we asked our Panel of Experts to give us their insight about what we can look forward to in the months ahead.
Posted at 8:04am | 3 Comments
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Posted on July 31, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
BizBen In The News This Week
Recent inquiries by business reporters from a major metropolitan daily newspaper and a news radio affiliate demonstrate a growing interest on the part of the media in learning about the buying and selling of small California businesses during this economic crisis, and talking to BizBen to get information. BizBen was contacted this past week by Cyndia Zwahlen, small business reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and Melissa Culross, news anchor for KCBS Radio in San Francisco. Their questions concerned the level of business sales and how that activity reflects the current trends in the state and national economies.
Posted at 6:28am | 0 Comments
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Posted on July 12, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
30% Drop In SBA Lending, But Positive Trends Noticed
The Small Business Administration has announced it approved 11,580 loans in the second quarter of 2009, representing a 30% reduction from the 16,490 loans it backed in the same period last year. Value of the loans guaranteed in the April through June period of 2009 was $2.5 billion, compared to the $3.5 billion figure for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
Posted at 5:21pm | 1 Comment
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Posted on June 18, 2009 Contributed by Christina Lazuric
A Business Brokers Perspective On The Present Economy
Christina Lazuric a business business broker in Southern California expresses her thoughts and approach to our current California economic condition. Whether you are thinking of buying, starting, or selling a business Christina offers her ideas of getting through this period.
Posted at 8:18am | 5 Comments
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Posted on June 11, 2009 Contributed by Jonathan Smith
Buyer Preparation Is Key To Getting Financing
Before one starts to search for a business to buy there are a number of key points to have in order. When seeking funding all lenders or intermediaries will ask for the same basic financial package and you will save considerable time and energy having prepared the package electronically so you can submit the package with ease. Jonathan Smith, a financing/loan consultant broker for business purchase financing discusses this topic with BizBen readers.
Posted at 5:35am | 4 Comments
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Posted on May 28, 2009 Contributed by Ken Oppeltz
SBA Loan Changes Impacts Business Purchase Financing
Ken Oppeltz, business broker in San Diego discusses the changes the SBA has made and is considering for future policy to SBA loans. These policy changes will have a direct impact to financing the purchase of small businesses and action is needed now by all in our industry, small business owners, business buyers, etc to help educate our legislators and SBA officials the negative impact these actions will have.
Posted at 7:51am | 5 Comments
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Posted on May 18, 2009 Contributed by Jonathan Smith
SBA Head Notes Increase in SBA-Backed Lending
About 1,200 lenders have resumed making Small Business Administration-backed funds available for the expansion and purchase of small U.S. businesses in the past few weeks, following changes instituted by the federal government to encourage small business access to funds through efforts such as the SBA's 7(a) program.
Posted at 8:44am | 1 Comment
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Posted on May 18, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
SBA Launches New 100-Percent Guarantee ARC Loan Program
Small businesses suffering financial hardship as a result of the slow economy may be eligible to receive temporary relief to keep their doors open and get their cash flow back on track through to a new loan program announced today by SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.
Posted at 7:19am | 1 Comment
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Posted on May 5, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Seller Training: An Overview About This Provision
Seller training from a business owner after a sale of a business can mean all the difference to a buyer and how successful the transition. This article by Peter Siegel of BizBen talks about different aspects of seller training after a small business has been sold.
Posted at 5:42am | 2 Comments
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Posted on April 21, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Biggest Complaints Regarding Business Buyers
Have the results back from surveying business buyers, business owners/sellers, and business brokers and agents about what annoys them most about the other participants in a deal. Some information was inevitable some was surprising.
Posted at 8:39pm | 0 Comments
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Posted on April 20, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Earn Outs: Latest Feedback, Structuring An Earn Out
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.
Posted at 9:30pm | 5 Comments
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Posted on April 7, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
SBA Loans Down By Nearly Half For Quarter
Fewer than 8,300 SBA 7 (a) program loans were made to small businesses in the first three months of 2009, a decline of nearly 50% from about 19,000 SBA-backed loans issued in the same period last year.
Posted at 8:11am | 1 Comment
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Posted on March 24, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
BizBen Fast Track Ads: Better Management & Lower Price
Recent updates with BizBen Fast Track ads (featured ads) are numerous. First you can add pictures to all your Fast Track ads your self in either when adding an ad or editing an existing ad on BizBen. Advertising Accounts with multiple ads - in the Multi-Ad advertising program can switch their Fast Track ads at anytime online and can order additional Fast Track ads at a discounted price at this time. Also prices on Fast Track ads have been reduced for the time by 50% off the original price.
Posted at 1:15pm | 0 Comments
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Posted on March 20, 2009 Contributed by Peter Siegel
Using Vendor Financing For Business Purchases
Vendor financing is one option in the quest to buy a small business. With SBA financing getting more difficult these days, vendor financing is one possibility for business purchase financing.
Posted at 9:56pm | 0 Comments
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