If you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for new ways to make money and create wealth. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by owning a business. But what if you don't have a lot of money to invest in a business? Is it still possible to become a successful business owner?
The answer is a resounding "yes!" And I know this because I've done it myself.
The Process
The first business I ever bought for someone else as a consultant was a No-Money-Down deal. My client had very little savings but he had his friend offered to sell him the business. Here's how we did it.
First, we put together a price for the business that my client could afford. We then went to the bank to see how much money we could get. To our surprise, we found out that we could finance about 75% of the price with a traditional mortgage. This was a great start, but we still needed to close the gap with a seller's note.
We convinced the business owner to take a seller's note equal to 15% of the purchase price. That still left us with a funding gap.
To make the deal work, we got creative. We said we would give the business owner equity in the business with an option to buy it back within five years at a certain price. This allowed us to close the gap and get the deal done.
But we weren't done yet. We needed about $100,000 in working capital to pay for inventory and other expenses around the time of closing. We went back to the bank and got a line of credit with the working capital as collateral. This gave us the money we needed to get the business up and running.
The result?
The business now provides the owner with $200,000 - $300,000 a year and spends less than 2 hours per week managing it.
He has gone on to buy other businesses and is financially independent.
So, what's the moral of the story?
It's that it is possible to buy a business even if you don't have a lot of money.
You just need to be creative and think outside the box.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Look for opportunities for no-money-down deals. Businesses that have less than a couple hundred thousand a year in cash flow, have lots of hard assets, or where the owner is highly motivated can be hot spots for no-money-down deals.
- Get a partner. If you don't have enough money to buy a business on your own, consider partnering with someone who does. Just make sure you have a clear agreement in place so there are no misunderstandings later on.
- Use other people's money. This is what we did with the line of credit. If you can convince someone to lend you money, you can use that to buy a business.
- Be willing to take some risks. Buying a business is always a risk, but it can be especially risky if you don't have a lot of money. Be prepared to take some risks, but also be prepared to do your due diligence and make informed decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you're interested in owning a business but don't have a lot of money, don't let that hold you back. With a little creativity and some hard work, you can still become a successful business owner.
So, go out there and start looking for your next no-money-down deal!