There is this small business in my area that is for sale for ~$1.2 Million. I know that the business is a bit struggling (and I know the reasons). As a customer in the sector, I know that there is demand and I have some ideas to increase the gross revenue and the profit margins. This is an absentee-run business with ~12 employees and a manager.

I have a full time job (in a different sector) and I want to keep it. I have never run a business but I have successfully managed big long-running projects. I have a CS degree but read some books on finance and business. I am married with a kid and we have a net worth of $500k. It is a bit scary to buy a million dollar business.

Question: I am curious if anyone has any suggestion on how to tell if it is okay to buy a business twice someone’s net worth. Is it too big of a step for a first business? Any suggestion on risk analysis or minimizing the risk here?

  • theperpetuity@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’m not sure any biz w/ gross revenues of 1.5m is worth paying 1.2m for. If I pieced that together correctly.

    I paid much less, much, on a 1.4m revenue biz. And would not expect 1m now on my 4.5 m in revenue.

    • SnooOranges8397@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I thought the valuations are usually based on profit or cashflow. In this case I think net profits are around 100k so 1.2m does sound expensive. If it was around 300k, wouldn’t it make more sense?