this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2023
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I would like to buy a large business that cash flows but I need a lot of money to buy it, where do I start? I could leverage my house?

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[–] milee30@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You're going to need some significant skin in that game. What $ amount can you personally put up? In addition to your $, do you have any collateral? What experience do you have in running that type business? What general management and financial background do you have?

As for the business, what is the valuation based on? Does it have a 3-5 year track record of profit that supports that valuation? Any assets that can be collateralized?

And BTW, there are numerous "Bay Areas". You'll want to specify which bay you're near.

[–] lampasoftware@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you don't have money to buy that kind of business - then you don't need it IMO

[–] RocketMoonShot@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That old world thinking and you'll get left in the dust. Buy, finance and if you fail then bankruptcy. It's the new American dream.

[–] lampasoftware@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

maybe you're right

[–] Rov_Rov1@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Read: "Buy Then Build" - Walker Deibel

Tons of tactical info on buying your first business, including all the different financing avenues.

[–] SaintMarinus@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

A bank. Walk inside and ask to speak with a lender.

[–] EvilLost@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

That's the kind of money that if you don't know, you won't get it.

[–] Scoot4ever@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Friends and family

[–] createIR4@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Google and talk to Codie Sanchez, ni am told they do amazinv things for entrepreneurs.

[–] spceinvdr_01@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Shaan Puri’s My First Million podcast on the Egg Carton Business just might give you a few ideas on how to get creative on how to finance it. Good luck on it

[–] orky56@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Thanks for sharing that amazing podcast. Only ideas I saw on financing it were a seller's note, debt from the bank, and ensuring consistent profitability from the business to clear due diligence with the bank. Am I missing something?

[–] Automatic-Bedroom-49@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do you have a business plan for that business yet?

[–] theMEtheWORLDcantSEE@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Yes. It already exists. I would just take on the business.

[–] yourbizbroker@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Business broker here.

A $6-$7M business can be purchased using a maximum of $5M from an SBA loan and then either seller financing or a conventional bank loan.

Plan on bringing around $1M to the table of your own money or from private investors. You may be asked to put down 10% of the purchase or supply your own working capital once you take over.

Your story matters. The bank and the seller need to feel confident your team has the experience to run a business of this size and industry.

[–] 0ctobogs@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

This is fascinating; thanks for the insight

[–] sa-tine@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Depends on the industry, but expect the lender to look for a debt service coverage ratio of 1.5 - 1.75 to secure a $5M SBA 7a. This means that the cashflow (including OP's salary) needs to be 1.5-1.7x the annual debt service amount. If your ratio is less than 1.5, you'll have a hard time securing a multi-million dollar 7a loan. Debt-service ratio is the most important metric in securing bank financing, FYI. Also, 15% down may be a more realistic expectation than 10% unless OP has a strong narrative. I'm in the same boat as OP trying to do the same thing now. DM me any specific questions.

[–] berkeleybikedude@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

This is interesting, I found this out recently but more as it related to purchasing a commercial property. If the property is leased or will be leased, the income from the tenants should be at least 1.5x what the mortgage is (or whatever it's called in that scenario)

[–] lmaccaro@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Or OP plus a partner can each borrow $5m towards the same business.

[–] redperson92@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

my experience with SBA was absolute crap. they would not lend me a penny, eventhough I was willing to put 50% of the price. SBA are piece of shit. All they wanted to do was make me go on seminars and give me useless advice.

[–] rocksrgud@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe if you went to those seminars you’d understand what SBA actually does

[–] redperson92@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I did go and did understand what they did. still of opinion that they are useless.

[–] Status-Effort-9380@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You need to work with SCORE to develop a business plan. The SCORE people usually have the pipelines to the lenders.

[–] redperson92@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

yup did that as well.

[–] AdventureAardvark@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Can be difficult to get seller financing with an SBA loan

[–] yourbizbroker@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It’s actually quite popular to pair SBA and SF.

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[–] RoundTableMaker@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You could get a maximum of 10mill from the sba to get a small business. They'll give five for the business and five for the real estate. Most people end up making more on the real estate imo.

[–] Low-Helicopter-2696@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Do you have any money or experience?

[–] Dillonvillon@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Bay area... shit sidewalk

[–] nobrokers@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Others are quick to judge here so Ill refrain since I dont know anything about you. Another broker has covered the SBA part. Traditional financing is another although it will be hard to find a bank willing to do any commercial lending like this without going SBA route. An alternate method is finding a private or group of private investors. Surprisingly there are actually a lot of investors on Twitter actively looking for deals. They have formed their own little community and I know people who were successful securing funding this route. Look for tweets talking about ReTwit, LP, GP and you will find the community of people. Maybe you can find money there....its unconventional, but we live in an unconventional world, and buying a business really has no rules so anything goes.

[–] theMEtheWORLDcantSEE@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I like alternatives. I would definitely consider it. What rates are private lenders offering?

[–] beley@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How much liquid capital do you have? You will need a minimum of 10% down plus operating capital to purchase a business with an SBA loan, and more if you tried to get a traditional loan.

Do you have $1 million in liquid assets (not equity in your home)?

If not, sorry to say it probably isn't possible to finance a business that size, even with good credit.

[–] zeeblefritz@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

This is good to know. I am hoping to somehow find $10M to build a strip mall/condo building and have $200k. I guess I need to start hustling.

[–] blarghghhg@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Cash flows without these huge interest payments. Cash flows with them?

[–] Dirty_magnum@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Go visit tech credit union. They are a pretty great to work with even though the other website is a piece of crap and do a ton of SBA loans. You’ll only be able to get 5 million max so you’ll have to come up with the rest somewhere else. Is the seller willing to carry a note?

[–] theMEtheWORLDcantSEE@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Not sure if he would carry? I’ll have to investigate. The business is not tech, fairly similar to hotels.

[–] urgencyy@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you don't know where to get that kind of money, you won't qualify for it either. Full stop.

[–] bubba_bumble@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Probably, but it helps the rest of us pleebs to understand what it does take.

[–] berkeleybikedude@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Are you looking to secure a loan to buy Anchor Steam OP?

[–] SecularFlesh47@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Family office. Buy them out after a set period of time.

[–] Ordinary-Wonder-1663@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

If you have to ask, you can’t afford it

[–] airforcevet1987@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I'll cover half of the non-SBA if you match with "first out" assets for me

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[–] endthefed2022@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

What’s to guarantee you’ll be successful ?

The founder left, can you do it?

[–] Delicious-Wind575@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Talk to a local community bank

[–] GRABnGO2020@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

first make sure its really worth 6 - 7M if that value is coming from "assets" then make sure that the inventory has salable value ...if the SBA will only lend 5m then offer 4.5M ...hey just because the seller says 6 does not mean they won't take 5M

[–] takum62@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Depending on the business, I know some lenders who might be interested.

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[–] jhansen858@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You will need 25% down to do it...

[–] SensitiveQuiet9484@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Go to dating app and find the oldest person on there. Marry them. Wait for their expiration. Come into some assets and change your life!

[–] mondaysbest@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Search fund investors for the equity, debt should be easyish

[–] iamnotlegendxx@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago
[–] AutomaticBuyer9872@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Just saw a comment that mentioned this was real estate, similar to a waterfront hotel.

An operating water front hotel in San Francisco probably trades at a 4% cap rate. SBA rates right now are at like 11%. Commercial real estate loans are probably like 8%. I find it very unlikely the numbers would pencil.

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