How to Avoid Business Opportunity Investment Financing Problems
Buying a business investment without real estate requires specialized business opportunity financing. Although this kind of business financing is available, there are several potential problems which should be anticipated and avoided by prospective buyers.
In order to buy a business, a commercial borrower is likely to need business financing. If the business includes commercial real estate, the borrower will need a commercial mortgage. If the business purchase does not involve real estate, a business borrower must use a business opportunity loan.
When obtaining a business opportunity loan, borrowers will discover that many lenders simply do not provide business loans that do not include real estate as part of the business purchase. There are several other important business financing issues to analyze prior to buying a business without commercial property.
The level of interest for buying a business opportunity investment has increased due to the reduction of activity involving residential real estate investing. However, because there are so many critical differences between financing residential real estate and business financing, it is important for potential business owners to educate themselves before proceeding.
This summary is designed to address the unique business financing requirements involved when real estate is not involved. Our suggested approach to business opportunity financing is provided below.
Prospective business owners should begin business opportunity investment financing plans by formulating a realistic assessment of cash available for a down payment and desired maximum business purchase price. In most business financing scenarios, a total down payment approximating 25% of the purchase price is advisable. Usually seller financing is permissible for a portion of the down payment, but a potential buyer generally needs to plan on investing a minimum of 10% or more of the purchase price from their own funds even if the seller is providing 20% or more.
Purchasers should evaluate whether a Small Business Administration loan is relevant for their particular business financing and investing circumstances. This step is both important and somewhat complicated, and the involvement of an SBA loan expert is strongly advised. Among the issues to explore are whether collateral is available for SBA financing and how important refinancing is to your overall business opportunity financing process.
Buyers should make an early determination concerning the length of lease to be arranged in conjunction with buying the business. As noted previously, business opportunity financing and investing does not involve the purchase of commercial real estate, so arrangements must be made for a long-term lease. The length of the lease is important because the normal business finance terms will restrict the length of business financing to the period covered by the lease (although buyers should anticipate a ten-year maximum for investment business loans). For example, with a seven-year lease, the commercial loan is likely to be for seven years, and even with a fifteen-year lease, the commercial financing will probably expire in ten years.
Even though real estate is not included in a business opportunity transaction, buyers should nevertheless investigate whether including real estate is a viable option or not in order to buy a business. With the inclusion of commercial property, you can obtain a longer business loan and the interest rate will be lower. However, improved business financing terms should not be the sole factor you look at, since the absence of a commercial mortgage can prove to be a significant advantage in a declining real estate market that currently exists in many areas of the country.
Investors and buyers should discuss business finance options with a business opportunity loan expert before making any offers to buy a business investment. These discussions should include issues such as down payment possibilities, potential purchase price, seller financing, tax return requirements, buyer credit scores and collateral options.
As a final precautionary note, in most circumstances the availability of business opportunity financing is more restricted than commercial real estate financing. There are also some problems unique to business opportunity loans, and commercial borrowers should make every effort to avoid these potential business financing complications.
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Help answer the question about finance
How quickly can I finance a car after my bankruptcy is discharged?We are filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and it is due to be discharged by May. How long after that can we finance a car for a decent rate?
April 7th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I've been in Finance for so long that I've decided that I wanted to do a different degree that was along the lines of my future goals… Law. I did my BBA in Legal Studies. I was a Finance major at first. I will suggest that you stick with the Finance Major vs the Business Administration. I mean if you think about what exactly is the B.A. offering you when the bottom line of the degree is in Business Administration? To have a specialty gives you a 'know-how' that makes you more adept in taking on positions that offer stellar pay as Finance and Accounting is known for. Each person is different in terms of what they want to do with their future goals. I normally see students minor in Business Administration if their Undergraduate Degree is in a totally different realm. This is only to signal to the employer that you are versatile and have business skills. If you are a business student I suggest Finance if this is what you want. Finance is definitely interesting and keeps you on the toes not just in the sense of performing statistical analysis but also conducting market and financial research including technical analysis which keeps you in the loop of world news as much as national news. You begin to witness the chain in global commerce & media and how it effects one another and inevitably effects the market as well as consumers far and near.
Another point that comes to mind is the institution that is granting the Finance degree. What is their reputation in the Finance Department? Are they first class? Are they top-rated? Usually the "glamourous pay but slave to your job" are firms off of W-Street which hit Ivy league schools to join their Associate or Summer programs. These programs, once selected ..highly selective, gear you up for positions such as equity or fixed-income analysts. Again, the pay is here, the perks are there, but you get no life. If you're looking to have that lifestyle then ensure your alma-matter can deliver. Your grades will obviously have to stand on its own and well .. if you have connections then use them.
If you want something more exciting in Business then go for Marketing. I'm leaning to the Marketing aspect in my MBA program which will play instrumental in my Entertainment Law (Law, Marketing, Finance (Budgeting)).
Good luck with everything.
P.S. I suggest you take a few finance classes (required and as an elective) before you decide.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
April 7th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
http://www.exinfm.com/free_spreadsheets.html
April 8th, 2009 at 9:25 am
a B.S. in Bus Admin is a useless degree
Finance is more banking/credit/loans/mortgages related
accounting is number crunching, financial statement prep, auditing
accounting is generally boring repetitive, often stressful
haven't worked in Finance field
FP/FA – mostly commission or salary with sales quotas – cold calling
April 8th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Set up a basic credit criteria, in which based on your clients credit score or certain qualifying options that you create, you base your credit line. Ok to make this easier, you could for example use a 90% credit line for clients whose credit score (or other certain criteria because companies sometimes don't look for a certain score but more or less other items they deem necessary) is 800 or more and it goes down from there…so as if a new client you have has a 500 score you could issue them only a 10% financing line. Second, after you set your standards, go ahead and work out your governing contracts, what is your interest rate (check with other similar companies in the field)? What is your late fee and when are payments due..how about penalties? Boy, that's enough for now huh!
April 9th, 2009 at 6:55 am
what is wrong with a pen and paper works real great if the electric goes off!!!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:50 am
You'll need a good solid business plan and have figures and answers to back it up. Plus some money out of your own pocket.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Traditional financing means your payments are the same every month for the life of the loan, e.g., $500.
In balloon financing, your payments will be lower, except at the end; this will be several times higher. In such an arrangement, your payment may be $350, but your final balloon payment might be $7000.
The latter type of financing is what trips up people, as they're able to make the smaller monthly payments at least until something happens – they lose their job, the economy turns sour, they have huge medical expenses, etc. Then they find themselves unable to make that balloon payment.
When exploring your options, have you crunched your numbers to be able to afford that car? (This is an important step in preparing for a big-ticked purchase.) Next, do you have enough money saved to be able to cover that balloon payment?
April 10th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Are you working with a Realtor? Ask them to suggest someone.
If not, Find a Mortgage Broker/Banker who can shop the market for you and find an investor who will finance you.
If you cant find anyone, I hope you made the offer contingent on you finding financing, if not, you are out of your earnest money when you back out.
Good Luck!