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How it works

How we help you buy a U.S. business, step by step

Six stages, each with a deliverable and a decision point. You can stop after any stage, and you always know who is doing what: TealBridge on the business side, independent attorneys, CPAs and escrow agents on the licensed work.

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The six stages

  1. 01

    Qualification call

    Week 1

    • Budget available for the purchase and for working capital
    • Source of funds and how it can be documented
    • Nationality and E-2 treaty status, family plans
    • Industry experience and how involved you want to be

    You get: A clear go or no-go and written search criteria. If an acquisition does not fit, we say so and suggest the route that does.

  2. 02

    Search and screening

    4 - 12 weeks

    • Listed businesses from brokers and marketplaces
    • Off-market opportunities from our network and direct outreach
    • First-pass screen: price vs earnings, owner dependence, lease, staff, licenses
    • NDA and first data request on the strongest candidates

    You get: A shortlist with first-pass numbers and the questions to ask each seller.

  3. 03

    Valuation and LOI

    1 - 3 weeks

    • Valuation by earnings multiple, asset and income approaches
    • Price and structure negotiation support
    • LOI terms agreed with your deal attorney: price, structure, exclusivity, diligence period, escrow and visa contingency, transition period

    You get: A signed, mostly non-binding LOI with exclusivity for the diligence period.

  4. 04

    Due diligence

    30 - 60 days

    • P&L rebuilt from three years of bank statements and compared with tax returns
    • Revenue concentration, customer and vendor contracts, staff and payroll
    • Working capital, liabilities, equipment and lease
    • Legal review of standing, contracts and employment through qualified counsel

    You get: Investment memorandum: verified earnings, risks, valuation opinion and a recommendation to proceed, renegotiate or walk away.

  5. 05

    Closing

    2 - 6 weeks

    • Purchase agreement drafted and negotiated by your attorney
    • Escrow instructions and funds flow
    • Licenses, permits, lease assignment, vendor accounts
    • Employee transition and a training period with the seller

    You get: The business owned by your U.S. company, with a 30 to 90 day handover plan.

  6. 06

    Visa documentation

    Before filing

    • Ownership and corporate records
    • Investment trail from your account to the seller
    • Source-of-funds narrative
    • E-2 business plan built on the diligence findings

    You get: A package your immigration attorney can use for the E-2 application.

Who does what

TealBridge
Search criteria, sourcing and screening, valuation, negotiation support, financial and business due diligence, investment memorandum, closing coordination, E-2 business plan
Your deal attorney
Legal due diligence, LOI and purchase agreement, escrow terms, entity documents
Your immigration attorney
Visa strategy, the E-2 application and the filing
CPA
Tax structure, purchase price allocation, bookkeeping set-up, quality of earnings on larger deals
Escrow agent
Holds the purchase funds and releases them under the agreed conditions
Seller and broker
Provide information and access; the broker usually represents the seller

How long it takes

Qualification
1 week
Search and screening
4 to 12 weeks, the most variable stage
Valuation and LOI
1 to 3 weeks
Due diligence
30 to 60 days
Closing
2 to 6 weeks after diligence
E-2 application
Depends on the consulate or USCIS route

Typical ranges, not commitments. A buyer who already has a target under LOI starts at stage four.

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