After receiving a few emails regarding escrow deposits, I thought I would address this for you. When you are attempting to purchase a business, you usually put up an 'earnest money deposit' to be placed in escrow. The deposit money does not belong to the seller. Perhaps in the seller's mind he thought it was his to keep. If you are using a state licensed broker, the brokerage is very specifically regulated as to what they can and cannot do with this deposit money.
Most licensed brokers have a separate account for escrow deposits only.
They may not commingle those funds with their working account. They are subject to spot inspections without notice from the state. If there is a dispute over the deposit, the escrow agent may not be able to release the funds to anyone without consent from all parties. The escrow agent does not earn interest, the seller does not and the buyer does not. If it is a sizable deposit you may ask to have it placed in it's own escrow account and pay for the costs associated to set that up.