Business or franchise acquisition loans

When starting a business, one of your first considerations needs to be how you will finance your business. There are all types of loans to get when starting a business, depending on the type of business you have. In addition, there are many reasons you will need financing as your business grows and develops.

If you plan on purchasing an existing business or franchise, on your own or by your business, one of the things you may need to get is a business or franchise acquisition loan. This type of loan is designed specifically for individuals or businesses seeking to purchase a business or franchise that is already in operation.

What is a business acquisition loan?
You can use funds from a business acquisition loan to pay for a business or to merge your business with another. This type of loan includes the funding necessary for starting a franchise as well.

You can use the money from the business or franchise acquisition loan in a number of ways. You can purchase the entire business as a whole, you can purchase the business's assets, or you can purchase all of the stock of a corporation. If you are in a business partnership, you can "buy out" the other partner, making it so you now own the entirety of the company.

What are the requirements for a business or franchise acquisition loan?
A business or franchise acquisition loan is often more difficult to obtain than a traditional small business loan. There are many factors a lender will take into consideration when you have applied for a business or franchise acquisition loan, including:

• Management experience. This is especially true if you are trying to obtain funding for a franchise. Lenders want to know that you have the necessary management experience and a proven track record of successfully running and operating a business before investing in it.


• The condition of the business being purchased. If you are trying to purchase a business that is thriving or doing well, you have a better chance of obtaining funding than if the business is bankrupt or losing money. However, your management experience will also be taken into consideration if the business you would like to buy is not doing well.


• Your credit history. You should have an excellent credit history if you are going to apply for a business or franchise acquisition loan. Lenders want to know you have a proven track record of paying your bills on time and are not likely to default on the loan.


• The cash flows of both businesses. Your current business' cash flow and financial state, as well as that of the business you are acquiring, will be taken into consideration. When both businesses are doing well and have a positive cash flow, the chance of defaulting on the loan is much lower.

The terms for business or franchise acquisition loans will vary, as will the interest rates. As a general rule, the maximum length of repayment of most business acquisition loans is 10 years. If real estate or property is involved in the acquisition, then the term is usually longer, up to 25 years.

A business or franchise acquisition loan can help you to purchase an existing business. However, there are strict guidelines you must follow in order to qualify for this type of loan.