Buying a Small Business · DashboardProgress 0%VisitorAll tracks
Beta build. The teaching business is fictional, case figures and model defaults are illustrative, and default loan terms are teaching defaults, not lending rules. Education only, not legal, tax, accounting or lending advice. Your work is saved in this browser on this device only.

Buying a Small Business ยท your dashboard

Your dashboard

From "I want to buy a business" to a decision you can defend: whether to buy this company, at what price, with what risks.

Start your journeyOpen the Deal Lab
Stages
6
Free to read now
10
Free tools
5
Outputs you have completed
0 of 10

Your journey

Stage 0Should I buy?FreeStage 1Who am I as a buyer?FreeStage 2What can I buy?FreeStage 3Is this a good business?Free demonstration, then member
Stage 4Can I make a good deal?Coming with the full release
Stage 5Should I close?Coming with the full release

How it works

Stages 0 to 2 are free: decide whether to buy, who you are as a buyer, and what you can buy. From Stage 3 the question changes to "should I buy this business?", and you work it in the Deal Lab.

Buying a Small Business0% complete
Outputs complete

This track is independent. No other track is required. This Beta covers Stages 0 to 3. Offer, closing and takeover material is planned for the full release.

Your outputs

Readiness decision Stage 0 · Free
Buyer Profile Stage 1 · Free
Buy Box Stage 2 · Free
Acquisition Capacity Model Stage 2 · Free
Business scorecard Stage 3 · Free
Normalized earnings Stage 3 · Member
Value range and buyer maximum Stage 3 · Member
Financing model Stage 3 · Member
Buyer cash Stage 3 · Member
Decision Record Stage 3 · Member

Educational use only. Not legal, tax, accounting, valuation or lending advice.

Buyer School is an independent educational website for learning about small-business acquisitions. Its lessons, examples, checklists, calculators and reports provide general information and illustrative planning estimates. They do not provide individualized legal, tax, accounting, investment, valuation or lending advice, and they do not determine SBA eligibility, financing approval or whether a particular business should be purchased. Using Buyer School does not create an advisory or other professional-client relationship. Buyer School is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Rules, fees, rates and lender practices can change; summaries may omit exceptions. Do not rely solely on Buyer School when evaluating, financing or purchasing a business. Before signing a letter of intent or other agreement, applying for financing, waiving a contingency or committing funds, review the current official SBA website at https://www.sba.gov, including the applicable SOP, program guidance and fee notices, and applicable IRS guidance at https://www.irs.gov, and obtain transaction-specific advice from an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction, a CPA experienced in business acquisitions, and the participating lender. Consult other qualified professionals when the transaction requires them. The lender must confirm how current SBA requirements apply to the proposed financing, and licensing and permit requirements must be confirmed with the issuing authorities.

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