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Guides

Guides to buying a business in the U.S.

What foreign investors ask us most often, answered in detail.

Absentee Owner Businesses: What They Really Mean for Buyers

What an absentee owner business for sale really means: semi absentee and turnkey models, earnings after a manager, key risks, and why E-⁠2 needs an active owner.

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Asset Purchase vs Stock Purchase: Which Structure to Choose

Asset purchase vs stock purchase: liabilities, taxes and Form 8594 allocation, licenses, contracts and consents, and how structure affects E-⁠2 documentation.

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Business Acquisition Attorney: What They Do and When You Need One

What a business acquisition attorney does, why you need an attorney when buying a business, and how the work splits between attorney, advisor and CPA.

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Business Acquisition Loans and Financing for Foreign Buyers

Business acquisition loan options for foreign buyers: cash, seller financing, foreign-⁠national bank loans, why SBA loans are usually out, and E-⁠2 rules.

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Business Broker vs Buy-⁠Side Advisor: Who Works for You

Business broker vs M&A or buy-⁠side advisor: who pays whom, conflicts of interest, what each one does, and when a buyer should use each in an acquisition.

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Buying an Existing Business vs Starting New: Pros and Cons

Buying an existing business vs starting new: cost, risk, cash flow, speed and E-⁠2 visa fit compared, with the pros and cons of each path for foreign investors.

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Due Diligence Checklist for Buying a Business: Full Buyer List

Due diligence checklist for buying a business: financial, tax, customers, operations, staff, legal, lease, licenses, IT and E-⁠2 items, with what to request.

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How Long Does It Take to Buy a Business? Timeline by Stage

How long does it take to buy a business? A stage-⁠by-⁠stage timeline from search to closing, what causes delays, and how E-⁠2 investors plan around it.

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How to Buy a Business in the U.S. as a Foreign Investor

Can a foreigner buy a U.S. business? Yes. Steps, timeline, costs, entity, EIN and bank account basics, financing limits and the E-⁠2 visa angle for buyers.

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How to Buy a Business With Seller Financing: Terms and Risks

How seller financing works when you buy a business: typical note terms, security, standby and default risks, how to negotiate, and why E-⁠2 investors need care.

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How to Buy a Business: A Step-⁠by-⁠Step Guide for Buyers

How to buy a business step by step: criteria, sourcing, valuation, LOI, due diligence, structure, financing, closing and transition, with timeline and costs.

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How to Buy a Franchise in the U.S.: New Unit or Resale

How to buy a franchise in the U.S.: new unit vs franchise resale, reading the FDD (Items 7 and 19), what it costs, transfer approval and E-⁠2 visa issues.

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How to Make an Offer on a Business for Sale and Negotiate the Deal

How to make an offer on a business for sale: price it on verified earnings, structure payment terms, write the LOI and use negotiation tactics that hold up.

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How to Value a Small Business Before You Buy It, Step by Step

How to value a business to buy: SDE vs EBITDA multiples, add-⁠backs, asset and income approaches, what drives multiples and red flags in seller numbers.

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Letter of Intent to Buy a Business: What to Include

What to include in a letter of intent to buy a business: price, structure, working capital, exclusivity, due diligence, contingencies and binding clauses.

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Quality of Earnings Report: What It Is and When a Buyer Needs One

What a quality of earnings report covers, how it differs from an audit, what drives its cost, and how smaller deals verify earnings from bank statements.

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Questions to Ask When Buying a Business: Seller, Broker, Landlord

Questions to ask when buying a business, grouped for the seller, broker, landlord, staff and franchisor, plus what each answer should be checked against.

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Red Flags When Buying a Business: Financial, Legal and Seller Signs

Red flags when buying a business: earnings you cannot verify, customer concentration, lease and license gaps, hidden liabilities and seller behavior to watch.

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