Buyers are generally categorized as belonging to one of the following groups although, in reality, most buyers fit into more than one.

The Individual Buyer

This is typically an individual with substantial financial resources, and with the type of background or experience necessary for leading a particular operation.

The individual buyer usually seeks a business that is financially healthy, indicating a sound return on the investment of both money and time.

The Strategic Buyer

This buyer is almost always a company with a specific goal in mind — entry into new markets, increasing market share, gaining new technology, or eliminating some element of competition.

The Synergistic Buyer

The synergistic category of buyer, like the strategic type, is usually a company. Synergy means that the joining of the two companies will produce more, or be worth more, than just the sum of their parts.

The Industry Buyer

Sometimes known as “the buyer of last resort,” this type is often a competitor or a highly similar operation. This buyer already knows the industry well, and therefore does not want to pay for the expertise and knowledge of the seller.

The Financial Buyer

Most in evidence of all the buyer types, financial buyers are influenced by a demonstrated return on investment, coupled with their ability to get financing on as large a portion of the purchase price as possible.

Almost all the purchasers of the smaller businesses fall into the individual buyer category. But most buyers, as mentioned above actually fit into more than just one category.

© Copyright 2013 Business Brokerage Press, Inc.

Sellers

• Don’t have a valid reason for selling.
• Are testing the waters to check the market and the price. (They are similar to the buyer who is “just shopping.”)
• Are completely unrealistic about the price and the market for their business.
• Are not honest about their business or their situation. The reason they want to sell is that the business is not viable, it has environmental problems or some other serious issues that the seller has not revealed, or new competition is entering the market.
• Don’t disclose that there is more than one owner and they are not all in agreement.
• Have not checked with their outside advisors about possible financial, tax or legal implications of selling their business.
• Are unprepared to accept seller financing or now unwilling to accept it.

Buyers

• Don’t have a valid reason to buy a business, or the reason is not strong enough to overcome the fear.
• Have unrealistic expectations regarding price, the business buying process, and/or small business in general.
• Aren’t willing (many of them) to do the work necessary to own and operate a small business.
• Are influenced by a spouse (or someone else) who is opposed to the purchase of a business.