Characteristics (and Red Flags) to Look for When Buying a Business

An entrepreneur is one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. Being an entrepreneur means taking financial risk for economic profit, it doesn’t have to mean building a completely new business. For those with an entrepreneurial spirit who don’t have the latest and greatest idea for an app or new technology, acquiring and improving an existing business is just as entrepreneurial as starting a new company. When buying a business, there are myriad issues that you need to look out for, as well as a few red flags.

  1. Asset vs Stock Acquisition. For the majority of entrepreneurs, an asset acquisition is the ideal method of buying a company because it provides tax benefits and shields you from existing corporate liability, such as a pending lawsuit or one yet to be brought. When looking to buy a business, the seller’s openness to an asset acquisition is a preferred characteristic. A seller only offering a stock sale should be a red flag. By limiting the sale to a stock sale, the seller is transferring legal liability to you – the red flag. However, for certain opportunities, a stock acquisition may be preferable to an asset acquisition, for instance when there are governmental licenses required for the operation of the business that may be difficult to transfer to a new corporation.
  2. Seller Indemnity. Regardless of whether you choose to conduct an asset or stock acquisition, receiving a seller indemnity helps to shield you from legal liability going forward. If a seller refuses to grant a broad indemnity for claims related to the business that arise prior to the closing, they are refusing to take responsibility for any unlawful conduct they engaged in while owning the business, which should be a red flag.
  3. Orderly Books and Recordkeeping. An often-overlooked characteristic of a business, even one in dire need of saving, is a clear history of recordkeeping. The business should be able to show cash flows into and out of accounts, current accounts receivables, etc. Without clear records, you could be acquiring a business that has failed to properly account for its debts – a liability you could be taking on.
  4. Proof of Tax Payments. Similar to orderly books and recordkeeping, the seller should be able to prove that all sales tax, payroll taxes, and any other outstanding taxes have been properly paid. Failure of the business to pay these required taxes could mean liability for you. Even in an asset acquisition, outstanding tax owed for those assets or for employees can become your problem.

In the end, entrepreneurial ventures may be risky, but they also offer the potential of significant profit.  If you are considering buying a business, the attorneys at Schneiders and Associates can help you protect yourself from liabilities of the seller.

By: Ted Schneider, Esq.