But, it can take time for sellers to warm-up to this idea and to a particular buyer prospect. Ask why the seller is selling only after you have a comfortable conversation going. Get as much of the seller's or broker's confidence as you can before you ask this question. It is critical for you to know this information. You want to get the answer that the seller and broker may otherwise be hesitant to tell a stranger.
Sellers have many motives for selling.
Some are obvious. Some are not. It may be that the seller is sick of the management role, doesn't really know how to grow the business any further, is ready for retirement, is moving for lifestyle reasons, or is physically ill. Or, it may appear to be one or more of these reasons, but actually may be that the seller has knowledge of pending new competition or some other change that will be damaging to the business. If a seller has run the business for a very long time, then the motive for sale is probably the usual management fatigue or retirement which needn't concern you.