How do I contact the seller of a business?
In order to contact the seller of a business, you must do so directly through the BusinessForSale.com site. You should click on the 'Contact Seller' button. This will allow you to send an enquiry directly to the seller or the seller’s agent.
Please note that the seller may ask for more information from you before they give you further information on their business. At some point, you may also be required to sign an NDA.
How do I get more details about a business for sale?
If you want further information about a business for sale you must contact the seller or the seller’s representative (an agent, broker or intermediary) directly via the site. BusinessesForSale.com does not have any more information about a business for sale than is currently available on the site.
We are not a broker or an intermediary. We are an advertising medium, like a newspaper or magazine but on the web. Therefore, to contact a seller please click the 'Contact Seller' button on the listing.
Please note: the seller may request more information from you than the information you provide in your initial enquiry. They may also ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement before disclosing any further information about the business.
Can I still contact the seller through the website after a business has been sold?
It is uncommon to have a listing on our site after the business has sold. In the majority of cases, the seller will delete the listing once the business has been sold. If the private seller has received an offer, they may add a ‘Sold STC’ tag to their advert that will indicate that the sale is subject to contract if the sale is finalised.
If this is the case, you will still be able to indicate your interest in the business by sending the seller a message through our site. The seller will then be able to consider your offer should the sale fall through.
Why hasn’t the seller got back to me?
It can take time for a seller to respond to an enquiry as they will need to get you the right information. At times, a seller or broker may be out of the office or they may be taking time to go through all of the responses to the ad.
Make sure that you check your voicemail and junk mail folder after sending an enquiry. Most sellers adverting on our site will respond within a few days but make sure that you are not put off if someone does not respond. We recommend that you continue your search.
Make sure to include pertinent information in your enquiry so that you stand out from the timewasters by indicating your seriousness.
What should I include in my enquiry?
Be sure to include as much information about yourself as possible when sending an enquiry. Explain why you are requesting the details of that business when you enquire. This is so that you distinguish yourself from others who may not be as serious about the business as you are. Sellers should, and often do, send information to every request but the more information you provide such as 'I have looked into finance and this business would be a viable option for me' or 'I am in a position now that if I find the right business I can move immediately', would place your enquiry as a higher priority.
It can take up to one week before you hear from the seller in this way. If you have still heard nothing after one working week and would like Customer Services to chase the seller up for you, you need to be a Premium Member. (Customer Services assistance is only available to Premium Members.) You can find instructions in Your Account area to upgrade to Premium Membership.
When you contact us as a Premium Member, Customer Services will investigate why the seller has not got back to you. We will try contact the seller for you or send you their direct contact details if they are available.
Can I do a search by the business reference number?
If you have visited the site and seen a business you like, you can make a note of the 6- or 7-digit listing id and search for it by typing this number in the search box on the homepage.
You can also save businesses to a shortlist however you need to be a registered buyer in order to take advantage of this service
Why doesn’t BusinessesForSale.com get back to me?
Customer Services assistance is a Premium Buyer benefit. The majority of buyer queries can be solved by visiting our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If after reading the FAQs you haven't found what you are looking for, please feel free to contact us. However please note, it may take some time for us to respond due to the high volume of queries we receive.
How to find businesses for sale?
BusinessesForSale.com has invested heavily in connecting buyers and sellers of businesses for sale. There are a number of ways you can use the site to help you find and buy your ideal business.
Keyword Search and Browse:
You can find businesses by typing your keyword search, e.g. Restaurant, into the text box found on the homepage or on the search results pages.
Browse links allow you to drill down through the sectors and categories of businesses for sale and can be found on the homepage under ‘Search by Sector’. You can also ‘Search by Region’ and click on the most popular searches listed in 'Top Searches'.
Advanced Search:
Advanced Search allows you to narrow down your search criteria by location and price.
Email Alerts:
Let us email you details of businesses for sale that match your requirements. Email Alerts is a free service. You need to have an account with BusinessesForSale.com in order to sign up for Email Alerts.
RSS Feeds:
Sign up for RSS Feeds and have businesses you are interested in delivered directly to your computer or mobile device via a feed. You’ll know about them as soon as we do.
How to price a business for sale?
The value of any business that you are hoping to buy will hinge on your ability to make a profit from it after the purchase. The most important points, therefore, are the historic cashflow and the assets of the business.
If a business has tangible assets, a track record of making a profit and an established customer base, the value will increase. The current market conditions and the reason that the owner is selling will also impact the value of the business.
It is helpful to consider the valuation process from the point of view of the seller so you know whether or not a business is correctly valued and how much room for negotiation there is. You will need to conduct a thorough due diligence before purchasing a business so that you can ensure you can correctly value the business.
How do you buy a business with no money?
There are several options for buyers looking to raise finance to buy a business. You can negotiate seller financing, or you can apply for a commercial loan. Read through our guide to financing your business in order to get a clear idea of how you can buy a business.
How do I buy an existing small business?
If you are curious about the buying process or you need more information on the process, we have put together a step by step guide that will give you everything you need to know. Most importantly, you will need to research the process so that you are in a positive position when going into negotiations.
How do I start a small business?
Starting a business can be a tough journey. Make sure that you have goals in place and a plan that you can use as a roadmap. Keeping focused on these goals will help you to keep going.
Make sure that you have reasons for starting a business other than financial gain as this will help to keep you motivated. When you are passionate about something, it is far easier to invest your time into it. The same goes for starting a business. For this reason, do you have a hobby that you can turn into a business?
Do as much research as possible when creating your business plan. The more detailed you can be, the better. You can alter it as you go but the more you know going into starting a business the less you will be thrown off track later on.
How long does it take to buy a business?
The process of buying a business can take anywhere from 8 to 12 months. This is from initial research to the handover. Don’t rush, though. Try to take emotion out of the process and be thorough in your due diligence.
What is Buyer Due Diligence?
Due diligence will give you the opportunity to uncover all aspects of the business that you are considering buying. Get a professional to look through the finances of the business, value the assets and make sure you cover legal, commercial and financial aspects of the business.
We go into buyer due diligence in more detail in our guide to buying a business.
What is the difference between a Business Broker, Business Transfer Agent, Business Sales and Mergers & Acquisitions consultant?
A business broker or business transfer agent will usually operate on a smaller scale. In other words, they will handle local or regional transactions. Small business buyers and sellers will make use of their services.
Business sales and mergers and acquisitions consultants will operate on a national or global scale. Any business buyer or seller that has complex mergers or a business that spans multiple locations will require their services.
Buy a Business or Start your own business?
Starting a business will initially be cheaper than buying one. However, buying a business will allow you to hit the ground running and avoid the years that it can take to get a business to the point where it is profitable.
If you buy a business that has already been operating for a number of years, you have the advantage of knowing the product or service has been tried and tested. Entrepreneurs, though, sometimes thrive on the risk-taking that is involved with starting a business from scratch.
The decision depends on your personality. However, go into starting a business with the knowledge that most new businesses fail. Buying a business will not, though, give you the creative freedom that comes with starting your own business.
What portion of the sale will the Seller finance?
Seller financing is when the seller of the business agrees to finance a portion of the business sale. While it can be the primary source of financing, it is more likely that it will become one portion of the total buyer finances for the purchase of the business.
Sellers that provide financing will do a credit check on the buyer before they agree to it and will sometimes ask for collateral or a personal guarantee from the buyer. The seller will also most often require a down payment from the buyer.
When can I have copies of the financials and tax returns?
Once the provisional terms are agreed on, the due diligence process can begin and the financials and tax returns should be made available to you. The seller will most likely require that you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before handing them over though. This is standard practice in order to protect the seller.
I do not have any representation - can you recommend legal and financial counsel?
BusinessesForSale.com provides you with a services directory that you can use in order to find the right professional help. Make sure that you get references before entrusting anyone with your money or information.
Can I talk with the owner(s) of the business prior to making an offer?
Click the "Contact Seller" button on the business listing. This will open a contact form that allows you to enter your details and a personal message to the seller.
All messages to sellers are delivered through the BusinessesForSale.com email system. The seller will reply to you directly. This can all be done prior to making an offer on a business.
How complicated is making an offer to buy a business?
You should be as prepared as possible before making an offer on a business. This includes knowing how you will finance the business and having funds available for the deposit.
Make sure you have done your research so that you know what the business is worth to be sure that you don’t overpay. You can then open the negotiations with the lowest fair price but be ready with information and questions that will justify your price during negotiation.
When you buy a company do you buy its debt?
This will depend on the type of sale. If you are purchasing the assets of a business, you will not be purchasing the company's debts- unless this is agreed upon during negotiation. If, however, you are purchasing the company’s stocks, you are taking on all seller debts and obligations.
The most important way to protect yourself when buying a business is to conduct a thorough due diligence with the help of a professional such as a lawyer or accountant so that you know exactly what you are taking on when you purchase the business.
If you want further protection, you can have the seller sign an indemnity agreement.
What if a business advert contains insufficient/inaccurate information or the location is unclear?
While we do our best to ensure that all businesses advertised on the site are genuine, we do not create the listings. All the information provided comes from brokers acting on behalf of the sellers and the sellers themselves. We encourage advertisers to provide as much information as possible, especially when it comes to the location of the business.
If you want further information about a business for sale you must contact the seller or the seller’s representative (an agent, broker or intermediary) directly via the site. BusinessesForSale.com does not have any more information about a business for sale than is currently available on the site. We are not a broker or an intermediary. We are an advertising medium, like a newspaper or magazine. Therefore, to contact a seller please click the ‘Contact Seller’ button on the listing.
Please note: the seller may request more information from you than the information you provide in your initial enquiry. They may also ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement before disclosing any further information about the business.
Do I have to pay to register as a buyer?
No. You can complete the registration process and create a free Standard Buyer account. We do, however, offer a Premium Buyer service that is paid and offers various benefits like prioritised enquiries and customer support.
The Standard Buyer account, though, will still allow you to save your searches, keep track of messages and get email alerts!
How do I change or update my account details?
In order to change or update your account details you will need to sign into your account with your username and password.
Once you sign in, click on 'Edit your name, address, email and password' to update your contact details, or change your username and password details.