Normalized earnings is the profit that would continue to the new owner after the old owner left the business.  In theory, it is the profit after the owner is paid a reasonable salary that would be earned after the business is sold.  What should be factored into this calculation?  There is no standard of what to include and not to include the businesses is becoming more international, there are many more things affecting a business.  Should you consider them before offering a price for the business for sale? (more…)

Some people get very frustrated that they cannot find a business to buy, they believe that the price is too high and they think that they can do it on their own for a lot less.  Is that true?  It depends on the individual.  Some people have the right background and can be very successful at a new venture, others will not be so lucky.  Which one are you? (more…)

Many people think about starting a business but are afraid to start because there is a lot of uncertainty, there is no cash flow and the business may not survive or you do not have enough capital to keep the business venture going until you reach break even.  Sometimes, it is easier to buy an existing business where you have immediate customer base, cash flow and existing suppliers.  It is also easier to get financing for an existing business rather than a start up. (more…)

You have built up your business from scratch and you go to work everyday in your business, you have a routine, you go home at night, nothing new or exciting happens, is it time to sell your business?  If you do not look forward to going to work everyday, is it time for a change?  How do you know when it is time to sell your business? (more…)

You have been to buy a business for sale for a long time and finally found the business of your dreams.  You are about to start due diligence but do not know what to look at.  You have only a short period of time, usually two weeks to ask for information, after which you are now starting to prepare a final purchase and sale agreement.  Here is a partial list of things that you should review during your due diligence: (more…)

Many businesses are cyclical therefore the timing of when you buy a business can be very important.  If you want to buy a retail store, the Christmas season has large sales but in the (more…)

You have decided that you no longer want to work for anyone and now you would like to buy a business.  What do you need to do before starting to look for a business to buy? (more…)

 The economy is slowing down, many businesses have been hurt by poor sales, too much capital is not being utilized and now the owners of the business is thinking about retiring and selling the (more…)

A recent report indicated that Canadians are sitting on a lot of cash and investing it in very liquid type of investments.  They are being extremely conservative.  Are you waiting for the (more…)

You have decided to purchase a business and are thinking of something that is a new concept, should you buy this or (more…)