Your business broker will handle all of the details of the business sale and will do everything possible to guide you in the right direction, including, if necessary, consulting other professionals who may be able to assist you. Your local professional business broker is the best person to talk to about your business needs and requirements. An existing business has a track record. The failure rate in small businesses is largely in the start-up phase. The existing business has demonstrated that there is a need for that product or service in a particular locale.
Financial records are available along with other information on the business.
Most sellers will stay and train a new owner and most will also supply financing. These last two are important considerations. Finding someone who will teach you the intricacies of running a business and who is also willing to finance the sale can make all the difference. There have been many surveys taken in an attempt to answer this question. Most surveys reveal the smae responses, in almost the same identical order of priority.