Home
>
Small Business
>
Attributes Of Companies You Don?t Want To Buy!

Attributes Of Companies You Don?t Want To Buy!

There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of companies to buy. Each purchase opportunity has to stand on its own merits. There are, however, attributes of acquisition candidates that need to be defined for what they really are before additional, limited resources are put at risk in a potential deal. It is absolutely critical for any proactive business buyer to understand, consider and deal with specific business characteristics that add unnecessary financial risk to the investment opportunity at hand.

The purpose of this article is to highlight characteristics of acquisition candidates that you should consider absolute "deal killers". These are brought to your attention because it is very common and natural to get so far down the due diligence trail on a company you have worked so hard to find, that IS for sale, that is right in your industry "comfort zone" and not see the inevitable financial disaster looming down the road because you became "blind" to what the future business potential will be, versus the potential of what you think it could be!

Buying Quality Businesses is a "Number's Game"

There is a direct relationship between perceived value of something that is in very limited supply and the time and effort you have invested to find it. Quality businesses, with extraordinary growth potential, that are for sale, are like the proverbial "Diamond in the rough" or "Needle in the haystack" analogies ? it takes removal of tons of dirt and mounds of hay to find what you seek!

In any proactive business acquisition pursuit, a seasoned business buyer will tell you that finding viable companies that can be purchased for reasonable terms is a "number's game". Thousands of company candidates, that lead to hundreds of contacts, which lead to ten's of acquisition conversations, that hopefully lead to one company purchase!

Going into any business acquisition effort, knowing what it takes to find and eventually secure a business purchase deal has a dramatic affect on the definition and your eventual allegiance to your business purchase criteria. If your purchase criteria are too "tight" and your commitment too rigid to that criteria, you may quickly feel you'll never find your "ideal" company to buy!

Absolutely, Unquestionably, No Brainer, "Deal Killers"

Attempting to find and qualify businesses to buy is an iterative and complex process. Each opportunity eventually stands on its own merits and purchase compromises will prevail because it is unrealistic to think you will find the exact, "perfect" acquisition opportunity. There are, however, business attributes, like these listed below, that are best left with the current company owners:

The sellers have previously terminated two or more purchase contracts
The current business owners have no clear, compelling reason to sell
The sellers cannot provide basic financial information
The business is completely dependent on one key employee
The seller will not provide any form of "earn-out" based on future company performance
The business relies on limited natural resources to produce its product or service
Improper application of the company's product/ service = major $ liability
The company has not been profitable for the last 3 years
Pending significant legislation possibly impairs future growth
Key personnel will not sign employment contracts or non-compete's
Payment on acquisition debt exceeds 50% of after-tax profits
There is an insufficient pool of labor or talent to grow the business
There is no technical or knowledge barrier to entry for the targeted business niche
Key patents are about to expire
Only one supplier can provide a key product/ service ingredient
One customer equals greater than 20% of total annual sales revenues
A viable competitor offers ALL the products and services your customers need
There is no customer purchase loyalty
The overall demographics of your targeted market(s) are negative
Extraordinary product/ service warranties are firmly established within the industry
The product must be manufactured overseas to effectively compete
Targeted, primary markets have had no growth the last three years
There is existing or pending, noteworthy legal encumbrances against the company
You determine the current business owner lies to you about "small" details

Assuming you have clearly defined and documented your critical Business purchase criteria well in advance to starting your business acquisition program, you will often start to compromise your purchase criteria as you continue to invest more time and money to find your "ideal" acquisition candidate. This is a "cardinal sin" in merger and acquisition pursuits. Compromising your purchase criteria is natural tendency, but ultimately a fatal mistake!

The importance of defining, understanding and truly committing to your critical company attributes is most important during these frustrating times. The most effective business buyers are disciplined business buyers. They are those who can decisively deal with uncovered negative company attributes and immediately move on to the next purchase opportunity

About the Author: Mark Smock is President of http://www.business-buyer-directory.com, the FIRST international business buyer directory of its kind. Business Buyer Directory provides a non-traditional means for proactive business buyers to locate businesses for sale worldwide that meet their exact registered purchase criteria.

limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A multipurpose robotic system promises to transform how items are stacked onto pallets, aiming to maximize space utilization and reduce shipping costs.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The number of people affected by a UnitedHealth data breach in February 2024 was actually higher than previously reported and was the largest medical data breach in U.S. history.

A phishing campaign uses Google Calendar to schedule fake meeting invitations that appear legitimate, redirecting targets to phishing sites.

Toll road text scam: Fake messages claim unpaid fees, seek payment via fraudulent links. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says these steps ensure that your friends and family get to the exact moment you want them to see. Try it out and streamline your sharing experience.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers tips on how to protect your identity: Be vigilant, monitor accounts, use smart security, know theft response.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says cybercriminals are exploiting iMessage phishing protection, tricking users to reactivate links.

It's hard to imagine life without in-flight Wi-Fi these days – but sky-high web surfing comes with its own set of privacy concerns. Here's how to protect yourself.

Over 400,000 cases of credit card fraud were reported in 2024 to the Federal Trade Commission. The CyberGuy explains how to protect against becoming another victim.

A nondescript metal box transforms into a fully functional electric motorcycle that blurs the line between vehicle and urban infrastructure.

Many apps unrelated to location still ask users for tracking permission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to end this alleged practice by Allstate.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Melody, the artificial intelligence-powered robot, is life-sized and represents a move toward creating robots that resemble people in appearance and interaction.

Here are five easy smartphone rules from the National Security Agency that you can follow to better protect your mobile device from hackers and scammers.

A U.S. robotics company has developed "Jennie," a robotic pet powered by artificial intelligence that's designed to comfort those facing mental health challenges.

Healthcare records for more than 184 million Americans were breached in 2024, but you can take steps to minimize that risk. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

The Skyrider X1 from Rictor claims to be the "first amphibious flying passenger motorcycle," and it combines land and air travel in one sleek design.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Home inventory and restoration apps help itemize and track every item in your home in the event you have to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster.

The White House launched a new cybersecurity safety label, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, intended to help consumers make informed decisions on smart device safety.

Today's tech can help make life so much easier — if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips on the quickest and best ways to make your phone, laptop and other devices work for you.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers Windows 11 restart fixes: Update drivers, run system scans and check hardware.

Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.

With limited hard drive space, tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers these tips for storing large video files and photos.

Attributes Of Companies You Don?t Want To Buy!

Small Business