Tips for buying a small business

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INTRODUCTION

Going into business for yourself is a big step, one that can be full of apprehension and even fear. Almost 90 percent of all those who purchase a small business have never owned a business. Most of them bought a business that was different than what they had been looking for. These buyers had the opportunity to explore the marketplace and subsequently found a business more to their liking. In most cases, the seller financed the sale.

As you begin your search, keep in mind that running your own business is more than a job; it is a lifestyle change. In most cases, it is a very big lifestyle change. Usually, you will be working longer hours, making all of the decisions, and, as the expression goes, "you will be the chief cook and bottle washer." In other words, you will be doing all of the work from running the business to, in many cases, sweeping the floor and changing the light bulbs.

Most buyers are looking for many of the following in considering the purchase of a business:

o Pride in the service or the product

o Flexibility

o Income

o Control of your own destiny

o Recognition

o Security

o Privacy

o Status

o Customer and employee contact

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

1. How long the business has been in business.

A business with a long track record means there are good reasons to be operating. It will be well known in the area, and people will be used to patronizing the business or using its services. The longer it has been in operation, generally, the better the business.

2. How long the present owner has owned the business.

The longer the present owner has been in business, the more likely he or she has been successful. People don't stay in business if they are not making money.

3. Why the present owner is selling.

If the owner has been in business for six months, is 37 years old, and wants to retire, you should be suspicious. The more valid the reason for sale, the more realistic the seller will be in considering your offer. However, keep in mind that after five or six years or more, people do get restless, "burn-out" sets in, and people look for new challenges. Why the seller is selling is an important question - get the answer.

4. Why books and records are important.

The financial records are a good indication of how well the business has been doing over the years. Keep in mind that tax records are not designed to show the business in the best light: no one likes to pay more taxes than they have to, and owners of businesses are no different. Generally, tax returns are a worst case scenario. You need to be able to look at the expenses and discover which ones are non-cash items, such as depreciation, and business use of home and vehicles. How important was the business trip to Las Vegas? A professional business broker can point these items out to you. When in doubt, however, seek outside assistance.

Keep in mind that financial records are only history. There are no guarantees that they will or can be duplicated or repeated. All of your profits are future. In the final analysis, the financial records of the business are an indicator of what the business has done; what you do with its future is up to you.

5. How to determine if the seller is reporting all income.

The simple answer is - that you can't! Not reporting income is against the law. You should consider only the income that the seller can show you. We all know, of course, especially in cash type businesses, that there is the possibility that the seller is not reporting all of his or her income for tax purposes. This "underground economy" has been well-documented and is in the billions of dollars. Many sellers will tell you about how much they are "skimming," but you should ignore their statements, since they have no way of proving these amounts. In determining whether a business is the right one for you, you should base the decision on the figures actually supplied to you by the seller.

The Bottom Line

Being in business for yourself can be a daunting prospect. There are no guarantees. At some point, after all of your investigation is completed, you will still have to make that "leap of faith" that is necessary to proceed with the purchase of the business. You will have to work hard, perhaps even "tighten your belt" a little and perform many different jobs to be successful in your own business. But, if running your own show, making your own decisions, not having to worry about job security (remember, no one can fire you from your own business), and just being on your own are important - then owning a business is for you. After taking this leap of faith, almost all business owners will tell you that they would never go back to being an employee.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

What should you look for when considering a business to purchase?

Unfortunately, too many prospective buyers want to know the asking price first and then ask how much money they can make. These are the wrong questions to ask initially. You need to know how much cash the seller requires as a down payment. No matter how good the numbers are there is no point in looking at a business if the seller wants three times as much cash as you are willing to invest. Remember, the actual amount of money a business earns is usually much more than just the bottom line. A smart approach is to get more information on the business, and even make a visit, before ruling it out or getting too involved in the numbers. It's all part of the learning process.

THE BUYING PROCESS

One of the most common questions asked by those who have never purchased a business (which is incidentally about 90 percent of those looking to buy a business) is how do you actually buy a business. There is no right or wrong way to buy a business. However, it is important that you get answers to all of your questions and that you have all the information necessary to make an informed decision. Here are the steps to buying a business that over the years have become the most efficient and practical:

Get the Basic Facts

Get preliminary information on price, terms, income, cash flow, and general location. There is no point in continuing the buying process if the amount of cash necessary to buy the business is more than you are willing to invest. At this point, don't worry about the full price. It's important, but the key factor is the amount of cash that is necessary to buy the business. There is very little outside financing available such as banks, etc., for those who are purchasing businesses. The great majority of business purchases are financed by the seller. This is why the amount you are willing to invest is a key issue.

Also, the business has to be able to meet your basic financial needs. You always expect a business to improve under your ownership, but you have to be able to meet your living expenses as well as meet the debt service of the business. It is also important to remember that almost all purchase prices and down payments are negotiable. In fact, businesses generally sell for about 15 percent to 25 percent less than the original asking price. There is an old adage that says, "the more cash you are willing to invest in a business purchase, the lower the full price; the less cash you are able to invest the higher the full price.

Visit the Business

Visit the business to see if you like the location and the looks of the business itself - both inside and outside. This is a visual inspection. Pretend you are a customer. It's not time yet to talk to the owner. If the business is the type that does not lend itself to a visit, make an appointment with the seller to inspect the business, or have the seller's representative schedule a visit. There is no point in going any further if you don't like the physical location of the business or the appearance of it.

Get Questions Answered

If you like the business so far, it's time to get your questions answered. For example: What is the rent? How long is the lease? What have been the sales for the past few years? Can the seller support the figures you have been told? Now is not the time to have the seller's books and records completely checked. There will be plenty of time to do that and review other important issues during the due diligence phase. This is the time to get those questions answered that have a bearing on whether you may want to own and operate this particular business.It is also the time to visit with the seller to get your questions answered about the business itself.

Make an Offer

If you now have your basic questions answered and you want to proceed with purchasing this business, it is time to make an offer, subject, of course, to verification of all the information you have received. The main purpose in making an offer is to see if the seller will accept your terms, price, and structure of the sale itself. Remember, you will have the offer subject to your verification of the important information. It doesn't make sense to employ outside advisors and go through the time and expense of due diligence unless you can come to financial terms with the seller.

Due Diligence

At this point, you hopefully have arrived at a meeting of minds with the seller, and you are ready to begin removing the contingencies, performing what is commonly called due diligence.

*Insider Tip

Unless you are completely familiar with the type of business purchased, it is beneficial to include as part of the agreement that the seller will stay with you (30 days is fair, with perhaps another 30 to 60 days of telephone consultation) a sufficient length of time to teach you the business - at no charge. If you want the seller to stay longer, it may be best to offer to pay him or her a consulting fee of some type.

IS BUYING RIGHT FOR YOU

The next step to buying your own business is to make sure it is the right move for you and your family. Owning one's own business is still very much "the great American dream," but it's not for everybody. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself before taking the next step. How long have you been thinking about buying a business? Many people are interested in buying their own business, but are not willing to make the commitment necessary to move forward. They continue to look just like those who continue to look at new and expensive automobiles, but will never spend the money necessary to buy. One veteran observer has said that the longer you look the less likely you are to buy.

What is your time-frame to find a business?

If you're thinking of buying a business in two years, it's good to start your education. BizBuySell is a good place to start. Keep in mind that it really doesn't make much sense to start your search now, since any business you find now will have been sold by the time you are ready to buy. It's important, however, to arm yourself with all of the information and education available before you begin the search.

What is your primary reason for buying a business?

If you are not motivated to buy a business, you won't. You must go into business for yourself and for the right reasons. If you're tired of the corporate world, just have a "job-job," or perhaps even a dead-end job, then business ownership may be right for you. Certainly if you're unemployed or being transferred to a place where you don't want to go - buying your own business can be a viable solution.

Are you willing to invest a majority of your liquid assets in a business?

Buying your own business requires a serious financial investment. If you're the type who does not want risk, you might want to rethink owning your own business. It is not for the faint-hearted.

Are you independent enough to make your own decisions and be in control?

Operating a small business requires continual decision making. You're the boss, and you are in control. All of the decisions are yours - right or wrong. And, you will make a lot of wrong ones. The question is, can you recover and keep going forward? If you brood about poor decisions or they keep you awake at night, owning your own business may not be for you.

Is your family supportive of your owning a business?

If your family, especially a spouse, is not behind you 100 percent, then you should think twice about business ownership. It's very important that you have the support of your spouse. He or she has to understand that running a business can be time-consuming. On the plus side, however, many businesses do allow for flexibility so you can attend the afternoon little league game.

Are you open-minded about different opportunities, or are you looking for a specific type or business?

It's best if you are open-minded, especially if you are a first-time buyer. There are many types of businesses available, and you don't want to limit your choices. You should be looking for a business that will provide the income you need (or ability to do so), that you can afford,that has numbers that work, and, most importantly, that you can see yourself running.

Do you have reasonable expectations?

Do you think that you can buy a business with lots of cash flow for $100? It's important that you have realistic expectations about what your money will buy. Many sellers are willing to assist in financing the sale of their business, but remember, they're not going to give it away. Keep in mind that many business owners have spent years building their business, and it may represent the biggest financial asset they have. They're not going to just hand it over to you.

Can you make the "leap of faith" necessary to buy a business?

Many prospective business owners do their homework, do everything necessary to begin the purchase process, and then back out of the transaction. They just don't have the courage to go forward. There is nothing wrong with that; not everyone should buy and own their own business. However, if you don't think you can part with your money and take over operating the business on your own, you may want to take a second look at business ownership.

Do you need a guarantee?

If you are looking for a guarantee or a sure thing, then business ownership is not for you. You can and should look at all of the financials, tax returns, and all of the books and records. Remember, however, that they all represent history. You can't buy anyone else's history. A new owner makes changes, no matter how subtle. Their management style is different, and times change. You have to look at the business with the attitude of how you can improve things. The financial history of the business is certainly important, but it does not guarantee the future of the business - you do.

COMMON BUYER QUESTIONS

Why should I buy a business rather than start one?

An existing business has a track record. The failure rate in small business is largely in the start-up phase. The existing business has demonstrated that there is a need for that product or service in a particular locale. Financial records are available along with other information on the business. Most sellers will stay and train a new owner and most will also supply financing. Finding someone who will teach you the intricacies of running a business and who is also willing to finance the sale can make all the difference.

What is the real reason people go into business for themselves?

There have been many surveys taken in an attempt to answer this question. Most surveys reveal the same responses, in almost the same identical order of priority. Here are the results of a typical survey, listed in order of importance:

To do my own thing, control my own destiny.

Don't want to work for someone else.

To better utilize my skills and abilities.

To make money.

*It is interesting to note that money is not at the top of the list, but comes in fourth.

How are businesses priced?

Generally, at the outset, a prospective seller will ask the business broker what he or she thinks the business will sell for. The business broker usually explains that a review of the financial information will be necessary before a price or a range of prices can be suggested for the business.

Most sellers have some idea about what they feel their business should sell for - and this is certainly taken into consideration. However, the business broker is familiar with market considerations and, by reviewing the financial records of the business, can make a recommendation of what he or she feels is what the market will dictate. A range is normally set with a low and high price. The more cash demanded by the seller, the lower the selling price; the smaller the cash requirements of the seller, the higher the price.

Since most business sales are seller-financed, the down payment and terms of the sale are very important. In many cases, how the sale of the business is structured is more important than the actual selling price of the business. Too many buyers make the mistake of being overly-concerned about the full price when the terms of the sale can make the difference between success and failure.

An oft-quoted anecdote may better illustrate this point: If you could buy a business that would provide you with more net profit than you thought possible even after subtracting the debt service to the seller, and you could purchase this business with a very small down payment, would you really care what the full price of the business was?

What should I iook for?

Obviously, you want to consider only those businesses that you would feel comfortable owning and operating. "Pride of Ownership" is an important ingredient for success. You also want to consider only those businesses that you can afford with the cash you have available. In addition the business you buy must be able to supply you with enough income - after making payments on it - to pay your bills. However, you should look at a business with an eye toward what you can do with it - how you can improve it and make it more productive and profitable. There is an old adage advising that you shouldn't buy a business unless you feel you can do better than the present owner. Everyone has seen examples of a business that needs improvement in order to thrive, and a new owner comes in and does just that. Conversely, there are also cases where a new owner takes over a very successful business and not soon after, it either closes or is sold. It all depends on you!

CEO of Africabrokers. Silvan a BSc & MBA graduate is a dynamic, results and systems driven business management professional with an outstanding track record of success in delivering critical leadership, strategic plans, and sustainable results in operating efficiency and productivity improvement, technology advancement, cost reduction, sales and revenue performance. Distinguished career focused on innovating new strategic directions, creating revenue opportunities, spearheading policy development, and driving organisational growth and success across broad disciplines. Key Expertise: Business & Strategic Planning, Financial Planning and Capital Raising, Managing Complex Mergers, Acquisitions, Management Buy-ins, Buy-outs and BEE transactions. Article by: www.africabrokers.com

Successfully getting a small business loan

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Working with a bank to obtain a small business loan can be an easy or difficult process, depending on how prepared you are to meet with the lender and discuss your business' situation and needs.

One of the leading causes of business failure is insufficient start-up capital. Ironically, though, lenders rarely approve loan requests for the businesses that have the highest need for a small business loan. Instead, lenders tend to prefer to offer small business loans to those businesses that have been in operation for two or more years.

According to All Business, it is estimated that 95 percent of all entrepreneurs opened their businesses with capital from their own pockets, or from money they borrowed from relatives, friends, or another person in their community. Lenders want to see business owners risk their own funds in the business venture, and often require that the business owner or owners provide a minimum of 25 percent of the capital needed to start a business, and at least that much equity in the business if the business is already in existence. Simply stated, lenders aren't as willing to take a risk when a business owner doesn't even risk their own money in the investment. Businesses with a history demonstrating success in paying their bills for two and a half to three years will have the easiest time obtaining a small business loan because they've proven their ability to meet financial obligations.

Preparing a Small Business Loan Proposal

When preparing to apply for a small business loan, be prepared to face the facts that are against you, and use them in your favor. Persistency is necessary if you want to land a small business loan. Lenders follow certain criteria to determine if the small business loan is a wise investment for the bank. Most importantly, the bank will determine if the small business loan is likely to be repaid. As with other businesses, banks and other lenders must answer to their investors and stockholders, and unpaid loans show instability in the bank or financial institution.

Items compiled into a small business loan request include the following:

- Amount of money requested

- Likeliness of business profitability and demonstration of cash flow needed to service a small business loan

- Collateral, if any is owned by the business

- A reasonable balance between debt and equity

Know Your Banker

Whether you have a start-up small business or an established small business, the first step in obtaining financing through a small business loan is to develop a business relationship with your banker. Consider asking your bank's manager to open a file for your business, and provide quarterly or yearly profit and loss statements. When your business is in need of financing, the bank will already have a file and will be at least somewhat familiar with your operations. When the time comes to apply for a small business loan, approach the banker with a solid business plan to inspire the lender's confidence in your business. Provide information on business operations, marketing efforts, management ability, and financial projections for three years, as well as a cash flow projection and personal balance sheet demonstrating the worthiness of the business.

To prove worthiness for a small business loan, prepare proper documentation. Keep your credit reports as clean as possible. A lender will assume that you operate your business in the same manner that you manage your personal finances. The lower your credit rating, the slimmer your chances are of obtaining a small business loan.

When applying for a small business loan, search for a lender by first approaching the bank or banks in which you currently do business. Since you'll need to share all of your personal and business financial information, it can be beneficial to apply with a financial institution that already has that information on file and is perhaps familiar with your profile and spending habits. If your credit rating is high, your changes are good of being approved for the small business loan.

If you are unable to work with a bank or credit union in which you currently do business, or if you'd prefer not to work with your bank or credit union for your small business loan, look for a lender who wants your business. Search the business section of your local newspapers for special financing offers on small business loans and other loans. These lenders are actively looking for people needing small business loans, and the process of obtaining a small business loan with these types of lenders may be easier and faster. Additionally, check into credit unions. Because credit unions tend to be smaller financial institutions, you may be able to speak directly with a loan decision maker. Larger banks and other types of large lenders may have more rigid rules for small business loans, and the processes that they employ may be more complicated for small business loans.

If, at First, You Don't Succeed

If your first attempt at obtaining a small business loan fails, don't be discouraged. Small business loans are often not approved with the first lender that you approach, and be assured that you're not alone. Especially if you have a start-up business, lenders don't always approve small business loans, even in the most ideal situations. Search for other lenders, or become resourceful and look into other sources for loans rather than a small business loan, including home equity loans and personal loans, both of which can be used for business purposes.

About The Author
Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ?, an online community for women in business. A 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find small business loans. Visit her site: Loans for Women http://www.digital-women.com

Five things you need to remember before starting a small business

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Everyone knows someone who has decided to go into small business but did you know that 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months of operation. In some countries that failure rate is as high as 85 to 90%. Small Business is one of the toughest industries you can ever decide to take on and most people who go into small business go into it for the wrong reason.

I have started 4 small businesses over the last 10 years and every single one of them has been started from scratch and survived into a thriving business. Just recently I have decided to sell one of the businesses off cause it had done what I expected it to do which is the first issue you need to think about.

Issue 1. Have a Clear Understanding of What You Want To Achieve In Your Business

The majority of people, who actually go into business, go into it for the wrong reasons. Even I have been guilty of that. So what is this wrong reason, most people start a small business because they believe they can do a better job then their current boss. Maybe this is true, maybe it is not but what most people really want is better working conditions and better pay. No one can blame you for wanting that. If that is all you want, then I strongly suggest you stay away from small business.

One of the key issues you must remember before evening thinking about starting a small business is this. Do you know what your business will look like? If you were walking down the street, how would you want to be found? What impression do you want to give to your clients? What clearly do you what to achieve in this business?

The second clear understanding you must have of your business is, when will you know when it is finished? When you have built what you want to achieve and more importantly, how will you get out?

See most people when they go into business have no exit strategy and that is one of the worst things you can do. Before you ever start a business, the first thing you must work out is how you are going to get out of the business.

Two years ago, I started a small car cleaning business. My wife and I both started it because she wanted to see if she could build a business. Our exit strategy was to sell the business once it was done. How we would sell it was something we were not sure of?

See we could have taken a number of approaches to this. Our exit strategy could have been to franchise the business, sell it to a single owner or to float it on the stock market. We chose that we only wanted to sell it to another owner, but we still built the business in such a way that there was still plenty of growth and opportunity in the business for the new owner, but we had removed the risk for them on how to run the business by clearly documenting everything they needed to do to run that business.

Before ever starting a business, always think about how you will exit the business, when you have achieved your objective for that business. If you do not have an exit strategy in mind, then you will never get out of the business.

Issue 2. Keep a Strict Schedule

Small business is consuming. Unlike in large corporations where you can hire many people to do a range of tasks, small business requires the small business owner to do many of the tasks themselves. Some of the tasks include doing your books, lodging trademarks, doing the ordering etc. Often when you start in small business, you can not afford to hire people to do these tasks.

What I have personally found is that if you do not keep a tight schedule and document your meetings and tasks you have to do then it will not take very long before you will be swamped by all the things you have to do in the business every day. It is this phenomenon that often leads small business owners to quit and fail in the first twelve months. Let me tell you this, the warning signs that this is starting is when you say to your wife on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that you are going down to the office to catch up on paperwork for a few hours. Once you get into this habit, you will never stop doing it and the business will consume you really quickly.

I strongly recommend all small business owners keep a diary. My preference is to use Microsoft Outlook, simply because it includes a calendar and you can make sure that each day you schedule your work plus your appointments to make sure you do not forget anything. If you do this, then you will find over time you can get through this plus you will learn how long it should take to do the various jobs that make up your business and whether it is worthwhile in getting someone to actually do those tasks for you.

Issue 3. Build Your Own Mastermind Group

I read a book a little while ago called Think and Grow Rich and is written by a gentleman called Napoleon Hill and he talks about the thirteen secrets to success and obscene wealth. One of the things that I learned both from this book and being a small business owner was that I needed a Mastermind Group.

The Mastermind Group is simply a group of professionals who can help me achieve my objectives for my business. Literally anyone can be part of your mastermind group and some of those would be people like a lawyer, an accountant and other people like your peers who can help you in building your business but it may also include people who are not in business as well to help you keep that balance. The Mastermind Group are really those people you turn to for advice and direction. You do not necessarily have to take their advice but a good mastermind group will allow you run through scenarios on what is happening and the potential outcomes.

Issue 4. Have one night when you do something on your own for you!

One of the big issues that I have had over the last ten years is that I have not been doing every single week is something on my own but I say that I am in the process of changing that. Often when you start in business, with the excitement of building your own business you get so consumed that you forget about a life outside of your business and your business becomes your life.

This is really not a good thing nor is it healthy. Even multi-billionaires do things for themselves outside of business. Look do not get me wrong, business is fantastic and fun and can be both enjoyable and a nightmare however there are other things out there outside of business.

When you start a small business, do not neglect your sports, do not neglect doing something social, if you do, in the long run you will find that you business suffers. Plus, in small business it is very easy to become bitter and twisted but by maintaining those none business activities it will help you to balance your life.

Issue 5. Don't neglect Your Partner or your Family

I would love to see the divorce statistics for small business owner's because I am quite sure that the divorce rate in small business would have to be about 70 or 80%. The majority of married couples (and I am talking about 90% of the small business people I Know) that I know who have gone into small business in their 30's have actually been divorced within 18 months of them starting the business.

Look there are lots of reasons why this happens, but in a lot of the cases, the partner who has gone into business neglects their family and money gets tight. In the partners case it is not their fault it is simply because the person gets consumed into the business and they forget they have a life outside of the business.

If you have a family, make sure that you do at least one activity a week as a family. Whether it is having a family night at home such as a video night or games night, or even just going to the park to play once a week, make sure that you do it. PLUS, you must ensure that at least one night a week must be for just you and your partner. If you do not do that your marriage or relationship will suffer.

One thing I share with all the people who come through our training business is that if you want to go into business that is cool but you must be prepared to accept two things -

1. You must be prepared to start from scratch if your business does not work

that is you must be prepared to start with just the shirt on your back.

2. You must have 100% support of your partner and family

If you cannot accept these two things, then do not go into business because too many people who I see that start on this journey fail and end up miserable and have such a downward spiral which leads them to doing something silly, like take up drinking, drugs or try to commit suicide. Remember, 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months. If you were a betting man would you back something that only had a 30% chance of winning, not likely, yet people still go into small business.

The bottom line is this, small business can be the most awesome ride of your life, but it can be also the most difficult and when you choose to go into small business, take your time and plan what you want to achieve. Remember the old saying if your Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail.

Our team at the One-on-One Learning Center provides Business Training Courses throughtout Australia as well as online training courses such as our Copywriting Courses. Check out our Meditation Music to help you master this important program.

Small business loans for women

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The Small Business Administration states that business loans for women are on the rise, and will continue to be needed on an increasing basis in coming years. Business loans for women are more popular than ever due to a variety of factors.

1. Women are taking the initiative needed to become business owners and are opening new businesses.

According to the most recent data on businesses, available from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, there were 5.4 million women-owned businesses in the United States in 1997. The Bureau of the Census also stated that the number of women-owned firms grew almost three times as fast as all firms between 1992 and 1997. They have reported that the number of women-owned firms increased by 16 percent in this five-year period, compared to a six percent increase for United States firms in general. The 1997 Economic Census states that women-owned firms made up 26 percent of the nation's 20.8 million nonfarm businesses, employed seven percent of the 103 million workers, and generated four percent of the $18.6 trillion in receipts. The National Foundation for Women Business Owners states that the current estimated growth rate in the number of women-owned firms is nearly twice that of all firms, and this increase is a trend that is expected to increase even more in coming years. The anticipated increase in women-owned firms, therefore, brings about a tremendous need for business loans for women.

2. The past decade has shown a boom in the home-based business arena.

The increase in home-based businesses popping up nationwide is due very much to the idea that many mothers are starting businesses in order to choose a work-at-home lifestyle to bring income into the home, and at the same time, raise their children at home rather than placing them in daycare. While these home-based business are operated in a nontraditional work environment, in perhaps a nontraditional style of operation, they are nonetheless the same as other businesses in the style of carrying inventory, making purchases for the business, marketing the business, and creating a web presence. Business loans for women are crucial for small businesses such as these. Many have proven to be just as successful or even more successful than traditional businesses and businesses owned by men.

3. Women often purchase existing businesses.

Nearly no explanation is needed to stress the need for business loans for women in this area. Purchasing a business requires money, most often obtained through business loans for women or through another type of loan. Because more and more women are leaving the work place and carefully weighing all factors of owning a business, purchasing an existing business is a wonderful option for those that don't want the risk involved in actually starting a business. By purchasing an existing business, it allows the potential new owner the opportunity to carefully examine the existing business regarding many things, including its profitability, gross sales, and market position. A business that rates high in all three areas is a good business investment for a new potential business owner, especially a women with past business experience. Business loans for women can offer a new, potential business owner the opportunity needed to operate a successful business.

4. With more women in business for themselves, business loans for women are needed to offer women capital crucial for a business to succeed.

Regardless of whether the business is home-based or more traditional in nature, and whether it's a start-up business or was a purchased, existing business, capital is needed for a business to succeed, and to start, business loans for women are of great assistance. Business loans for women offer women a way of starting a new business with capital. Business loans for women can also assist women in increasing sales for an existing business, as well as marketing the business or expanding a business.

5. Women tend to choose to operate businesses in the services or retail trade industries.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than seven out of every 10 women-owned businesses and firms are operated in the services or retail trade industries. Considering the nature of these two types of businesses, one can easily see why the need for business loans for women is on the rise. In order for a woman to successfully operate a retail trade business, for example, inventory is needed. While drop shipping can sometimes be an option, especially for an at-home retail business operated through an online store, more realistically speaking, inventory needs to be purchased. Business loans for women offer women the option of purchasing inventory to be sold in a retail business. Likewise, a service-related business normally operates with the use of equipment, and is often specialized equipment for that specific type of business. The availability of business loans for women offers women the opportunity to purchase equipment and supplies needed to operate and succeed in running a service-related business.

Business loans for women are increasingly important for female business owners. However, careful consideration should be taken before securing a business loan to make sure that the loan is truly needed for the business to expand and succeed, and to make sure that the loan payments will easily fit into the business' budget.

Rebecca Game is a 30 year entrepreneur who founded the online community for women in business at Digital-Women.com It provides resources and tools for women starting a business of their own. Please visit her site: Digital Women - Loans for Women

This article may be freely used when author/resource box is totally intact with live link.

Top Ten Small Business Mastermind advisors, all small business owners should have to succeed

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The statistics on small businesses going broke in the first 12 months of operation are nothing short of obscene and seriously scary. In Australia and other western countries such as the United States 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months of operation but let me tell you from experience, surviving after that 12 months is no less harrowing.

After 10 years of running four small businesses and creating them from scratch I can tell you with some authority, that I did not do this on my own. In fact, I reckon I have made every mistake in the book on how not to run a small business, but yet I have still survived. The secret to staying in business is all down to being able to talk to my ten Small Business Mastermind Advisers.

My ten Small Business Mastermind Advisers are there as my support team in helping me make the right decisions. See often when we make a decision in small business, it might be right at the time but down the track it can do you a lot of harm. Having your small business mastermind advisers on call, you can simply call them and ask them the consequences of the choices you are about to make.

For example, having the right business structure and putting your business assets in the right structure will play a major roll in the success of your business when you decide to exit the business. Se e most people who go into business only ever think of the business as a job they do not look at it from the perspective of how they will exit the business when they have built it into an enterprise.

Those ten small business mastermind advisers will help you to ensure that you have met your obligations and that there are no hidden issues that might come up in the future for your business. For example, we recently chose to sell off our car cleaning business as my wife wanted to pursue something different. Because of the way I had structured some of the trademarks in my company that related to hers, when we went and sold the business it created a number of headaches in the sale process. Essentially we had to shift ownership of those trademarks to her company prior to the sale which created a number of financial costs that we have had to endure even though my company never made any money. This issue arose simply because in the early days, I did not have my 10 Small Business Mastermind Advisers to tell me how my choices would impact on me in the future.

Adviser 1: Accountant

In business today, with the complexities of superannuation, sales tax or GST, income tax and all the other taxes out there an accountant is a must. As a small business owner you need to find an accountant that is a small business specialist and is proactive in working with you.

What I have found is that some accountants will only do what you ask them to do and will not step in and give you advice if you do not ask. You want an accountant that if they see you are doing something wrong then they will tell you without you asking.

The other thing you will need to ensure is that you hire an accountant that outlines where all of their hours are going. It is very easy for you with accountants and solicitors to end up with 5 or 6 figure bills.

Adviser 2: Solicitor

The solicitor is another important Small Business Mastermind adviser. Just like the accountant you need to make sure that the solicitor is a small business specialist. The role of the solicitor is to help you with all legal issues like what structure suits what you want to achieve, do your forms and policies meet your legal obligations, like your privacy policy, recruitment policy etc.

They can also help you protect your assets and in particular your intellectual property like trademarks, copyright etc. Often small business owners do not do the basics of trademarking their business name and logos to stop other business predators using their identities.

Adviser 3: Marketing and Advertising Expert

A Marketing and Advertising Expert is a must in today's market place. I have found that with the various media types, people in the industry can get better deals than if you dealt with the media owners. For example, recently I chose a new advertising specialist to join my small business mastermind advisers because their company was able to negotiate lower television advert placements, than what I could dealing directly with the station.

Your marketing and advertising expert should have some experience in your industry and be able to show real statistics of adverts and marketing campaigns that actually achieved results. More so, they should also have a mantra of test and measure to ensure that your campaigns are giving you value for money and more so, are making you a profit.

Adviser 4: Bookkeeper

Some accountants have their own bookkeepers, but I have found that quite often they are more expensive than bookkeepers not tied into an accountant. Further to this you should always check to make sure the bookkeeper is certified. In some countries, including Australia, bookkeepers can be certified through the National Bookkeepers association or the CPA.

Your bookkeeper must be prepared to work with your accountant and if they have questions you must give them permission to speak with your accountant and more so, you need to make sure that they document all communications with your accountant.

Remember one thing, it does not matter whether your Bookkeeper or your accountant makes a mistake, ultimately, you as the business owner are responsible for your books. If they get it wrong, it will be on your head, so always make sure that you understand what they are doing.

Adviser 5: IT Person

Everybody hates computers and I am a 20 year veteran of the industry and I still hate them. Having a good IT person is essential. Most businesses today are now totally reliant on their IT Technology and if your technology goes down, the question you need to ask is, "could your business still operate?" If the answer is no, then you need to hire an IT person who will be there in an emergency.

When choosing an IT Person or company make sure they are qualified in the technology you are using. For example, if you are using Microsoft Windows technology in your office, then your IT Person should have at the very least the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician qualification.

Adviser 6: Website and Search Engine Expert

If your business is not on the web and you are not selling products to the global market then you are making your life incredibly difficult and you are missing out on lots of opportunities. The internet is a fantastic tool for doing business but be warned there are lots of crooks out there, especially in the search engine optimization industry.

Before choosing a web builder and search engine expert ask to speak with some of their existing clients or talk to other business associates and find out who they use. I will say you should expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000 per month for this service depending on your business and what sort of income you want to derive from the internet.

Adviser 7: Business Coach

Business Coaches, are like website and search engine experts, there are a lot of snakes out there who have no real small business experience. Before choosing a Business Coach ask them if they have ever owned a small business or if they had been a principle small business manager.

If you have been in small business for a while, then it will be very obvious to you as to which business coaches have owned businesses before going into business coaching. Their approach will tend to be more practical then something out of a book. Once again before choosing a business coach, talk to your business colleagues and see if they can recommend someone.

Adviser 8: Financial Planner

Managing your money is a major issue and most accountants will not give you Financial Planning Advice. A good financial planner will be able to help you where to put your business money, to get good growth but also to be easily accessible.

You should also have a good financial planner for your personal 401k or superannuation policy but also if you are managing an employer superannuation program. Most small business owners forget to build their own 401k or superannuation policy as they are building their business and when they get to selling their business they find they do not have enough to live on once they retire because once the business debts are paid off, nothing is left.

Adviser 9: Business Banker

Finding the right bank and right business banker is essential to succeeding in business. You definitely need to build a constructive relationship with your business banker as they will be your life line in a dire cashflow situation or if you need money for a deal you just could not let go by.

Business Bankers can also help you with other issues like leasing and hire purchase accounts, but also other facilities like merchant facilities, sales tax bank accounts etc.

Adviser 10: Insurance Broker

I learned the hard way on how important an insurance broker is to your business. The previous insurance company I dealt with did not advise me that none of the glass in my building was covered if I was broken into. I have extensive insurance, but because Glass was an optional extra, the previous insurance company did not tell me this and when we were broken into, even though I pay over $5,000 per year in insurance, I still had a $4,000 bill for all the glass damaged during a break and enter.

This particular experience really drove home, how a good insurance broker, whilst upfront might cost you more, in the future will save you more.

Just like any employee when you are putting together your Small Business Mastermind Advisers you need to interview each adviser and ensure that you are able to work with them. Further to this, to get the best advice from your Small Business Mastermind Advisers you must be 100% honest and open with them, even when things are looking dire. If you are not totally honest, then they cannot give you the advice that will help you get out of trouble.

Learn the Law of Attraction business from the teachers of the secret. Check out our Meditation and Relaxation Music to help you master this important program. Learn how to Make a Mony Tree with our 32-Step Copywriting System.

A small business selling

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INTRODUCTION

Is it time to sell? Selling your business is a major decision! You have devoted your time, money, and energy to building, running, and operating your business. It may well represent your life's work. You may have already decided that now is the right time to sell, and you want the very best professional guidance you can get. This is when working in tandem with a professional business broker can make the difference between just getting rid of the business and selling it for the very best price and terms!

ARE YOU READY TO EXIT?

If you've gone this far, then selling your business has aroused enough curiosity that you are taking the first step. You don't have to make a commitment at this point; you are just getting informed about what is necessary to successfully sell your business. This section should answer a lot of your questions and help you through the maze of the process itself.

Question 1

The first question almost every seller asks is: "What is my business worth?" Quite frankly, if we were selling our business, that is the first thing we would want to know. However, we're going to put this very important issue off for a bit and cover some of the things you need to know before you get to that point. Before you ask that question, you have to be ready to sell for what the market is willing to pay. If money is the only reason you want to sell, then you're not really ready to sell.

*Insider Tip:

It doesn't make any difference what you think your business is worth, or what you want for it. It also doesn't make any difference what your accountant, banker, attorney, or best friend thinks your business is worth. Only the marketplace can decide what its value is.

Question 2

The second question you have to consider is: Do you really want to sell this business? If you're really serious and have a solid reason(s) why you want to sell, it will most likely happen. You can increase your chances of selling if you can answer yes to the second question: Do you have reasonable expectations? The yes answer to these two questions means you are serious about selling.

The First Steps

Okay, let's assume that you have decided to at least take the first few steps to actually selling your business. Before you even think about placing your business for sale there are some things you should do first. The first thing you have to do is to gather information about the business.

Here's a checklist of the items you should get together:

o Three years' profit and loss statements

o Federal Income Tax returns for the business

o List of fixtures and equipment

o The lease and lease-related documents

o A list of the loans against the business (amounts and payment schedule)

o Copies of any equipment leases

o A copy of the franchise agreement, if applicable

o An approximate amount of the inventory on hand, if applicable

o The names of any outside advisors

Notes:

If you're like many small business owners, you'll have to search for some of these items. After you gather all of the above items, you should spend some time updating the information and filling in the blanks. You most likely have forgotten much of this information, so it's a good idea to really take a hard look at all of this. Have all of the above put in a neat, orderly format as if you were going to present it to a prospective purchaser. Everything starts with this information.

Make sure the financial statements of the business are current and as accurate as you can get them. If you're half way through the current year, make sure you have last year's figures and tax returns, and also year-to-date figures. Make all of your financial statements presentable. It will pay in the long run to get outside professional help, if necessary, to put the statements in order. You want to present the business well "on paper." As you will see later, pricing a small business usually is based on cash flow. This includes the profit of the business, as well as the owner's salary and benefits, the depreciation, and other non-cash items. So don't panic because the bottom line isn't what you think it should be. By the time all of the appropriate figures are added to the bottom line, the cash flow may look pretty good.

Prospective buyers eventually want to review your financial figures. A Balance Sheet is not normally necessary unless the sale price of your business would be well over the $1 million figure. Buyers want to see income and expenses. They want to know if they can make the payments on the business (more on this later) and still make a living. Let's face it, if your business is not making a living wage for someone, it probably can't be sold. You may be able to find a buyer who is willing to take the risk, or an experienced industry professional who only looks for location, etc. and feels that he or she can increase business.

*Insider Tip:

The big question is not really how much your business will sell for, but how much of it can you keep?. The Federal Tax Laws do determine how much money you will actually be able to put in the bank. How your business is legally formed can be important in determining your tax status when selling your business. For example: Is your business a corporation, partnership or proprietorship? If you are incorporated, is the business a C corporation or a sub-chapter S corporation? There are some new tax rules, effective January 1, 2000, that impact certain businesses on seller financing. The point of all of this is that before you consider price or even selling your business, it is important that you discuss the tax implications of a sale of your business with a tax advisor. You don't want to be in the middle of a transaction with a solid buyer and discover that the tax implications of the sale are going to net you much less than you had figured.

WHO IS THE BUYER?

Buyers buy businesses for many of the same reasons that sellers sell businesses. It is important that the buyer is as serious as the seller when it comes time to purchase a business. If the buyer is not serious, the sale will never close. Here are just a few of the reasons that buyers buy businesses:

o Laid-off, fired, being transferred (or about to be any of these)

o Early retirement (forced or not)

o Job dissatisfaction

o Desire for more control over their lives

o Desire to do his or her own thing

A Buyer Profile

Here is a look at the make-up of the average individual buyer looking to replace a lost job or wanting to get out of an uncomfortable job situation. The chances are he is a male (however, more and more women are going into business for themselves, so this is rapidly changing). Almost 50 percent will have less than $100,000 in which to invest in the purchase of a business. In many cases the funds, or part of them, will come from personal savings followed by financial assistance from family members. The buyer will never have owned a business before, and most likely will buy a business he or she had never considered until being introduced to it.

Their primary reason for going into business is to get out of their present situation, be it unemployment or job disagreement (or discouragement). The prospective buyer wants to do their own thing, be in charge of their own destiny, and they don't want to work for anyone. Money is important, but it's not at the top of the list; in fact, it probably is in fourth or fifth place in the overall list. In order to pursue the dream of owning one's own business, the buyer must be able to make that "leap of faith" necessary to take the risk of purchasing and operating their own business.

Buyers who want to go into business strictly for the money usually are not realistic buyers for small businesses. Keep in mind the following traits of a willing buyer:

o The desire to buy a business

o The need and urgency to buy a business

o The financial resources

o The ability to make his or her own decisions

o Reasonable expectations of what business ownership can do for him or her

What Do Buyers Want to Know?

This may be a bit premature since you may not have decided to sell, but it may help in your decision making process to understand not only who the buyer is, but also what he or she will want to know in order to buy your business. Here are some questions that you might be asked - and, should be prepared to answer:

o How much money is required to buy the business?

o What is the annual increase in sales?

o How much is the inventory?

o What is the debt?

o Will the seller train and stay on for awhile?

o What makes the business different/special/unique?

o What further defines the product or service? Bid work? Repeat business?

o What can be done to grow the business?

o What can the buyer do to add value?

o What is the profit picture in bad times as well as good?

A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER

Buyers Want Cash Flow

The first thing to keep in mind is that the vast majority of buyers want to buy cash flow. Sit down with your accountant or bookkeeper and begin to get your financial statements in order, with cash flow the order of business. Cash flow is not the same thing as profit. Most buyers look at the profit and loss statement or tax return, as well as owner or family compensation. They will consider any excess compensation to employees and family. Buyers will also look at large, one-time expenses such as a new computer system or remodeling. They will consider non-cash items like depreciation and amortization. Interest expenses will be reviewed, as will owner prerequisites. These are items that a professional business broker considers when advising a selling client on a selling price.

*Insider Tip

What about the Internet? The Internet is a real "buzz" word - and if its use is appropriate for your business, then developing a web site is important not only to your on-going business, but also to a buyer. Many buyers are conscious of what the Internet is doing for many businesses. If you have a web site for your business, it could be a big plus.

Appearances Do Count

The time to replace that old worn-out piece of equipment is before you decide to sell. Don't assume that a new owner will want to do it or that the price will be slightly lower because you haven't replaced it. The time to "spiff up" the business is now, even if you aren't selling. Fix the sign, replace the carpet, paint the place - make it look good. Even if you're not selling, it's just plain good for business, and you never know when the time to sell occurs. Keep-in-mind that anything that increases sales also increases profits and the all-important cash flow!

Everything Has Value

There are other things that add value to your business. Don't discount the value of customer lists, proprietary products and/or techniques, well-maintained equipment, secret recipes, customized software programs, or good employees. These are termed "off-balance sheet items," and although not used in most pricing models, they add to value. Look at your business very carefully so you don't overlook those items that make your business more attractive to the buyer.

Eliminate the Surprises

Long before you put your business on the market eliminate the surprises! Review every facet of the business and remedy any problems that could appear during the sale process. No one likes surprises - most of all potential buyers. Whether legal, accounting, environmental, or anything else - solve it now.

*Insider Tip

This may sound like something that should have been done when the business first started, so it may be "after-the-fact". You should create an operations manual. You may already have started one years ago, or simply, have thought of doing one. Now is the time. It may actually create added value to the business. Even if it doesn't, it will impress buyers that you have your business "act" together and should help you sell more quickly and effectively. Preparing a manual on how to operate your business can also be helpful even if you don't want to sell. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just cover the basics. A collection of ads that you have placed a catalog or sample of products, publications, or menus (if the business is food related) is also impressive. Include anything to do with the business that might be helpful for a new owner. However, don't include anything that is proprietary, such as customer lists, suppliers or secret recipes, etc.

YOU CAN HELP

We look forward to working with you in finding a suitable buyer for your business. You, as the seller, are an integral part of the total marketing program. We would like to offer a few friendly recommendations that will help in our marketing efforts. We have checked those items that we think will be especially applicable to your type of business.

It might also be helpful if you took a good look at your business from the perspective of a buyer. Try to put yourself in the place of a prospective purchaser of the business. What would you do to make it more attractive or more saleable? Obviously, the financial records of your business are critical to the sale of your business, but how it looks is also important. First impressions really count! If a potential buyer doesn't like the appearance of your business, the rest of it may never get a chance. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us. It's only by working together that we'll get the best results.

You might want to check the following to see if any of them are applicable:

o Keep normal operating hours. There may be a tendency to "let down" when you put your business up for sale. However, it's important that prospective buyers see your business at its best.

o Repair signs, replace outside lights, etc. You don't want your business to look as if it has been neglected.

o Maintain inventory at a constant level. If you let your inventory slide, your business will look neglected. If anything, increase it so your business will look busy.

o Remove items that are not included in the sale and unnecessary items, especially if inoperative.

o Repair non-operating equipment or remove it if you are not using it.

o Tidy-up outside premises.

o Spruce-up the inside of the business.

COMMON SELLER QUESTIONS

How long does it take to sell my business?

It generally takes, on average, between five to eight months to sell most businesses. Keep in mind that an average is just that. Some businesses will take longer to sell, while others will sell in a shorter period of time. The sooner you have all the information needed to begin the marketing process, the shorter the time period should be. It is also important that the business be priced properly right from the start. Some sellers, operating under the premise that they can always come down in price, overprice their business. This theory often "backfires," because buyers often will refuse to look at an overpriced business. It has been shown that the amount of the down payment may be the key ingredient to a quick sale. The lower the down payment, generally 40 percent of the asking price or less, the shorter the time to a successful sale. A reasonable down payment also tells a potential buyer that the seller has confidence in the business's ability to make the payments.

Why is seller financing so important to the sale of my business?

Surveys have shown that a seller, who asks for all cash, receives on average only 70 percent of their asking price, while sellers who accept terms receive on average 86 percent of their asking price. That's a difference of 16 percent! In many cases, businesses that are listed for all cash just don't sell. With reasonable terms, however, the chances of selling increase dramatically and the time period from listing to sale greatly decreases. Most sellers are unaware of how much interest they can receive by financing the sale of their business. In some cases it can greatly increase the amount received. And, again, it tells the buyer that the seller has enough confidence that the business can, indeed, pay for itself.

What happens when there is a buyer for my business?

When a buyer is sufficiently interested in your business, he or she will, or should, submit an offer in writing. This offer or proposal may have one or more contingencies. Usually, they concern a detailed review of your financial records and may also include a review of your lease arrangements, franchise agreement (if there is one), or other pertinent details of the business. You may accept the terms of the offer or you may make a counter-proposal. You should understand, however, that if you do not accept the buyer's proposal, the buyer can withdraw it at any time.

At first review, you may not be pleased with a particular offer; however, it is important to look at it carefully. It may be lacking in some areas, but it might also have some pluses to seriously consider. There is an old adage that says, "The first offer is generally the best one the seller will receive." This does not mean that you should accept the first, or any offer -- just that all offers should be looked at carefully.

When you and the buyer are in agreement, both of you should work to satisfy and remove the contingencies in the offer. It is important that you cooperate fully in this process. You don't want the buyer to think that you are hiding anything. The buyer may, at this point, bring in outside advisors to help them review the information. When all the conditions have been met, final papers will be drawn and signed. Once the closing has been completed, money will be distributed and the new owner will take possession of the business.

What can I do to help sell my business?

A buyer will want up-to-date financial information. If you use accountants, you can work with them on making current information available. If you are using an attorney, make sure they are familiar with the business closing process and the laws of your particular state. You might also ask if their schedule will allow them to participate in the closing on very short notice. If you and the buyer want to close the sale quickly, usually within a few weeks, unless there is an alcohol or other license involved that might delay things, you don't want to wait until the attorney can make the time to prepare the documents or attend the closing. Time is of the essence in any business sale transaction. The failure to close on schedule permits the buyer to reconsider or make changes in the original proposal.

What can business brokers do - and, what can't they do?

Business brokers are the professionals who will facilitate the successful sale of your business. It is important that you understand just what a professional business broker can do -- as well as what they can't. They can help you decide how to price your business and how to structure the sale so it makes sense for everyone -- you and the buyer. They can find the right buyer for your business, work with you and the buyer in negotiating and every other step of the way until the transaction is successfully closed. They can also help the buyer in all the details of the business buying process.

A business broker is not, however, a magician who can sell an overpriced business. Most businesses are saleable if priced and structured properly. You should understand that only the marketplace can determine what a business will sell for. The amount of the down payment you are willing to accept, along with the terms of the seller financing, can greatly influence not only the ultimate selling price, but also the success of the sale itself.

CEO of Africabrokers. Silvan a BSc & MBA graduate is a dynamic, results and systems driven business management professional with an outstanding track record of success in delivering critical leadership, strategic plans, and sustainable results in operating efficiency and productivity improvement, technology advancement, cost reduction, sales and revenue performance. Distinguished career focused on innovating new strategic directions, creating revenue opportunities, spearheading policy development, and driving organisational growth and success across broad disciplines. Key Expertise: Business & Strategic Planning, Financial Planning and Capital Raising, Managing Complex Mergers, Acquisitions, Management Buy-ins, Buy-outs and BEE transactions.

The evolution of a small enterprise financing

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For years I have read the popular business magazines, all having so called experts write articles for entrepreneurs on how to finance their business. "The top 10 strategies for financing your start-up", "How the SBA can help your small business", "Personal credit is the key for entrepreneurs" and so on. In most cases I'm willing to bet those writing these articles are journalists that have never had a successful start-up. How can I come to that conclusion you may ask? Because of the bad advice they give.

Going to the SBA for a loan, using your retirement funds, tapping all your personal credit cards or giving up 75% of your idea to an investor are all ideas I have read from the popular magazines. The thing is, in every one of these cases you are using your personal credit and not separating you from your business. You are putting 100% of your credit and assets at risk.

I have worked with thousands of small business owners who have been very successful without the need to use their personal credit cards, retirement funds or fill out stacks of paperwork and wait months for a response from SBA backed banks. In fact I have seen entrepreneurs with access to hundreds of thousands of dollars without giving up a percentage of their company or having any of the money show up on a personal credit report. Sounds good right? Well, there is one catch. You will need to go through the evolution of financing your business. You can't start at the end. This is the problem with most entrepreneurs. They want fast results and aren't willing to wait. By taking the quick fix they give up ownership and put their personal credit at risk.

The evolution of business financing starts with a solid foundation for your business. A solid foundation is comprised of several parts. The first of which is structuring your business entity appropriately. I recommend to every entrepreneur that you use a Sub Chapter S-Corporation, C-Corporation or Limited Liability Company to operate the business. This is the first step in separating the business owner from the business. The next phase of building the solid foundation is to ensure the business is in compliance with the lending markets. Several business owners are surprised when I tell them most lenders we work with when reviewing a credit application will first call directory assistance to see if your phone number is listed. It's a simple check, but it's the first flag that will be raised for them if the business isn't listed. Why would a lender finance a company that doesn't want anyone to find them?

There are hundreds of other due diligence phases that a company must go through in order to ensure the owner and business are not considered "high-risk" for obtaining credit and financing. The more a business has in place to show that it is a real business the more likely a lender will grant credit to that company.

The second step in the evolution of small business financing is to define what the business does, what makes it unique and why it will be successful. The business owner must create a one-page "sales pitch" for the business, also referred to as an executive summary. The executive summary can be used when applying for credit, seeking investors and developing marketing campaigns.

Business owners need to keep in mind when seeking financing that the most important thing for a business is to produce a profit. Without revenue there will be no profit. Marketing the business will help produce the revenue and the executive summary will help create the marketing.

Third, a company must build a business credit report separate from the owner's personal credit. By working with trade credit, the single largest source of lending in the entire world, a small business can tap into limitless leverage for buying goods and services they need to start, run and grow the company. The beautiful thing about trade credit is in many cases it's free money. If a vendor grants terms of net 30, a business owner has the ability to use the vendors goods or services for 30 days without interest before they need to pay the vendor. The other wonderful part of trade credit is that there are companies offering products and services small business owners need who will report the credit to a business credit bureau. The reporting of the trade line will create a business credit profile separate from the personal credit of the business owner. Eventually the business will be able to access more and more credit under the business name only if it maintains a positive business credit score.

The more credit received under the business name the more likely other companies will grant that business credit. No one wants to be the first in line to grant a business $50,000 in credit, but if others already have they will be more inclined.

Fourth, is to use the owner's positive personal credit score in combination with a positive business credit score as leverage for obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in unsecured lines of credit for the business. The key is to do this with lenders that don't report the accounts to the personal credit bureaus but rather the business credit bureaus. Many banks offer business lines of credit and loans, however finding the right type of product from these banks can be tricky. A business owner needs to make sure the loan or credit line they apply for reports only to the business bureau.

By keeping business debt separated from the personal credit report, a business owner has the ability to keep their personal credit score high. The more a business owner uses their personal credit in the business, the lower the score will drop. Credit scores determine the ability to buy homes, rates on car insurance, and several other factors. Keeping a personal credit score above 720 is extremely helpful in the business owner's personal and business life.

The fifth stage of the business financing evolution is to look at other alternative financing the business may be able to obtain. Leasing is one key area. Why use precious cash reserves to buy equipment or software when you can make a small monthly payment? In addition 100% of the payment on the lease is expensed.

The final stage deals with investors. The majority of investors don't want to look at companies unless they have already progressed through the business evolution stages outlined above. Keep in mind that an investor is not just investing in a business they are investing in the business owner as well. If the business owner has tapped every available resource for credit and cash personally and never taken the time to establish business credit, financing or lease arrangements an investor will toss that company's proposal in the garbage quickly.

Not every business owner will find themselves at the stage they need an investor. They may have a combination of enough cash-flow, credit and financing in place from the early stages that they won't need additional capital. However, if a business needs to grow with the help of additional capital or financing there are two typical ways an investor will look at the deal.

The first is through debt financing and the second equity financing. Debt financing with an investor is where they provide a loan to the business in exchange for a pre-determined amount of interest. Equity financing is where an investor puts money into a business in exchange for ownership. There can also be a combination of debt and equity.

The majority of small business owners believe this is where they should start, with the investor. In reality this is the last place a business owner should look. Investors want to use their money to grow a business by having the money spent on revenue generating activities. The typical small business owner that goes to an investor says "I need a million dollars to start my business." When asked what they're going to use the money for they say, "start-up costs and payroll". This is where the investor walks away. No investor wants to fund a project so the business owner can make payroll, buy office furniture, equipment or office supplies.

This is the perfect example of the evolution of business financing. The company starts out as an idea, then structure is put in place. Next, the business becomes real with licenses and a sign outside the building. Next, the business creates an identity with the right message. Then the business obtains trade credit that separates the personal and business credit in order to obtain larger lines of unsecured credit. All of which is used to build the infrastructure of the business without maxing out all the available credit for the business or business owner. Last, the business has the ability to seek investors because it has done everything required to create the solid foundation.

Receive the booklet How to Build Business Credit by David Gass ? President and Founder of Business Credit Services. It will share with you how more than 10,000 businesses across the nation have achieved over $175 million in combined financing in their business name only, all using his patent-pending system to build corporate credit separate from your personal credit.

You will also learn the first steps required to getting a business loan, lease, and other lines of credit without the use of a personal credit check or guarantee.