A lot of people dream of being their own boss. They want to own a company so they can do what they love and make the rules themselves. Entrepreneurs also find it important to be able to serve their customers in the best way possible, unconstrained by others’ rules.
If that’s you, you might think that the best avenue is to start your own business from scratch. However, many entrepreneurs find that buying an existing business makes more sense than starting over.
Why would you buy a business rather than start your own? Here are three reasons to consider:
1. It’s Easier to Secure Financing
As the saying goes, it takes money to make money, and unless you have a lot of capital to start with, you’ll need financing. Those who found their companies on their own often bootstrap. That means they use their own savings, borrow from family and friends, and keep costs low so they can get started successfully.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work, and bootstrapping can limit how quickly you can grow. Getting financing from an outside source is a better choice, but lenders and investors often look for existing customers, cash flow, and signs of success before they’re willing to hand over cash.
When you buy an existing business, you have a structure that’s already working. You have customers, and you’re bringing in revenue from the beginning. That makes it much easier to get financing.
2. You Have an Established Brand
The world is an incredibly noisy place. Americans are exposed to 4,000 to 10,000 ads per day, and most people have a very short attention span. If you’re starting a business from scratch, it won’t be easy to get noticed.
If you buy an existing business, you start with an established brand that already has steady customers. If the company is successful, then advertising is already in place, and local residents have heard of the business and seen the store.
Your job as the owner of an existing business is to amplify the brand and spread your influence, which is much easier than trying to break into the market from scratch.
3. An Established Operations System
Setting up business operations isn’t as easy as putting an “Open” sign in the window. You need to have a reliable, consistent supplier, accounting systems, customer service processes, and other contacts within the industry.
Buying a business that already has a working operation saves you significant time, money, and headaches. Even if you come in wanting to make changes, you have a functional system to start with. That makes it much easier to improve.
Starting from scratch is a lot of trial and error, and unfortunately, the wrong decisions can cause the business to fail. When you buy a company, you can start with the existing processes and make them better.
Is it Time To Buy a Business?
Being an entrepreneur is a big decision, and you shouldn’t make it lightly. Instead, look at all of your options before you move forward.
You might have assumed that starting your own business was the only way forward, but the truth is there are a lot of advantages to buying an existing company. If you’re interested in learning more, contact us today!