BizBuyFinancing Blog

How To Finance A Business Purchase With Limited Collateral

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Arranging to get needed finance options for business purchase opportunities with limited collateral to pledge is possible by seeking the loan from an institution in the SBA lender network. While a number of people who’ve given up the role of company employee–whether or not by choice–want to purchase their own business to insure their future, a major obstacle to this plan is to come up with the necessary cash. It doesn’t help that home equity has declined, leaving someone wanting to buy a shoe repair shop, Hallmark card store or other small business without the resources required by many lenders before they’ll approve a loan and disburse the cash.

SBA Loan Program May Be A Solution

How To Finance A Business Purchase With Limited Collateral

Banks and other institutions offering SBA-backed loans, such as the 7 (a) loan program, can provide an solution for the would-be business owner who finds himself in this difficult position: A terrific business opportunity has been discovered, but the buyer doesn’t have the collateral usually required to get a business acquisition loan. Yes, he may have some cash remaining after meeting the down payment agreed on, but the available funds will be required to satisfy the business’ operating capital needs. Borrowed cash may be needed to complete the deal.

The benefit of working with an SBA-backed lender is that the loan officer will follow the Federal agency’s guidelines, which often place emphasis on cash flow of the business when there are not enough assets to fully secure the loan. Conventional lenders, by contrast, are less oriented to factoring in seller discretionary earnings generated by the business, when reviewing a loan application.

Analyzing Cash Available To Pay Off Finance Options For Business Purchase

The loan officer may be willing to excuse the borrower’s inability to put up enough collateral to fully secure the loan amount if it’s obvious the business can generate the funds needed to repay the obligation. But getting approval of a request for finance for business purchase objectives may be particularly difficult if the borrower is unable to persuade an SBA-backed lender that the company generates enough cash to support the loan payments. Confusion about how to calculate a company’s cash flow, and determine whether it will enable the new owner to meet the principal and interest installments, may cause a buyer to lose a deal even if there will be ample funds remaining for loan service, after all cost of sales and overhead expenses have been deducted from gross revenues. One difference in the way a borrower and a lender calculate revenues available for repayment often hinges on how each evaluates add-backs. Non-recurring expenses also can confuse the issue, with the buyer showing where more earnings can be anticipated than are shown in the company’s financials.

The aid of a skilled specialized business loan broker often can resolve the disagreements when a buyer is having trouble getting the finance for business purchase objectives. The loan specialist’s experience may equip him, or her, to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of an SBA-backed lender, that the business does generate the money the borrower will need to meet the debt obligations.

Contact Us Today or Call Now!  800-540-1811. Find out why more business buyers and sellers every day rely on BizBuyFinancing to finalize their business purchase loans!

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About the Author

Peter Siegel, MBA, Founder and President of BizBuyFinancing, has been assisting business buyers, owner/sellers and intermediaries to obtain business purchase financing since 1990. For more information about business purchase financing, please phone Peter Siegel, MBA at 800-540-1811.

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