Who do you work for, the buyer or the seller?

On most listings we act for the seller, and the seller pays our fee. We are still candid with buyers about what we know and help you get the documents you need to decide. We will tell you whose side we are on for each deal, and we suggest you keep your own attorney and CPA.

How much cash does it take to buy a business?

That turns on the price and the financing. SBA borrowers usually put in part of the price as equity, and seller financing can lower what you need at closing. We run your numbers with you on the first call.

How long does a purchase take?

Finding a good fit may take a few weeks or many months. Once a letter of intent is signed, a financed deal often needs a couple of months to close, depending on the lender, the lease assignment and how organized the seller's records are.

Do you have listings beyond Hutto?

We do. We work with businesses throughout the surrounding area, Round Rock, Georgetown, Taylor and Pflugerville among them. Let us know how far you will commute and we will narrow the listings to fit.

What happens if due diligence turns up a problem?

Finding problems is the purpose of due diligence. Depending on the issue, you can renegotiate the price, adjust the terms, have the seller fix it before closing or walk away under the letter of intent. We help you pick the response that matches the problem.

Does the seller stay on to show me the ropes?

Most purchase agreements build in a training and transition period, and you negotiate its length in your offer. We help you ask for enough time to meet key customers, suppliers and employees alongside the seller.

Two men seated at a white table reviewing a printed business listing and a yellow legal pad, with gym equipment and floor mats in the background

ServicesBuy a Business

Buying a Business in Hutto

When you buy an established company, its customers, employees, lease and routines come with it. We find listings that suit you, dig into why each owner is selling and where the earnings truly come from, and help you offer on the business as it actually stands.

See the Whole Business Before You Make an Offer

The problems that sink a purchase are usually there to be found before closing. Profit that only existed because the owner put in sixty-hour weeks. A single customer behind half the sales. A lease with two years to run and no option to renew. On the buy side, we look for these early, while you still have room to change the price, the terms or your mind.

Our buyers include first-time owners stepping away from corporate jobs, owners adding a second location and investors after steady cash flow. We meet at our office or by phone and video. Each listing you look at is covered by a confidentiality agreement, so sellers can show you actual figures rather than round ones.

New listings reach registered buyers first, ahead of wider marketing. If a franchise interests you, our Franchise Resales page covers how buying an existing unit is different.

What Our Buyer Help Includes

Listings matched to your criteria

We start with what you want to own: industry, size, how hands-on you plan to be and how much cash you can put in. Then we send listings that fit instead of everything on the market.

A close read of the financials

We compare tax returns, profit and loss statements and bank deposits for the same years. We also question the add-backs used to calculate discretionary earnings, because a generous add-back can quietly inflate an asking price.

The real reason for the sale

Retirement, burnout, a partner dispute and a shrinking market can all hide behind the same listing headline. We ask directly, check the trend lines and tell you what we find.

Lease, permits and transferability

A good business in a space you cannot keep is a risky buy. We look at lease terms and assignment clauses, permits that must be reissued and contracts that need consent to transfer.

Offer and letter of intent

We help you shape the offer: price, deposit, inventory, working capital, the seller's training period and any seller financing. Your attorney and CPA review the final documents.

Getting ready for a lender

Lenders want a clear picture of the business and of you. We help you gather what an SBA or conventional lender usually asks for, and our Acquisition Financing Guidance page goes further.

Man in a suit photographs an empty restaurant dining room with his phone while the owner stands beside him; a binder and calculator sit on a table in front.

When Buyer Help Makes Sense

Listings with no real numbers: Online marketplaces show an asking price and little else. Registering with us gets you financial summaries once you sign a confidentiality agreement.
Earnings that look too good: If cash flow seems high for the revenue, the add-backs deserve a careful look before you get attached to the idea.
Two businesses you can't compare: A restaurant and a service company with the same profit carry very different risk. We help you weigh owner involvement, staff stability and equipment needs side by side.
A seller pushing for a fast answer: Pressure to sign quickly is a reason to slow down. We help you ask for the documents you need and set a fair due diligence period.
Financing not started yet: Lender approval takes time, and sellers take prepared buyers more seriously. Starting early keeps you from losing a listing you like.

How a Purchase Moves From Search to Closing

1
Register and talk through your goals
A phone call covers what you want to buy, your timeline and your budget. Registration is free, and new listings reach you first.
2
Review listings under confidentiality
You sign a nondisclosure agreement for each business that interests you, then receive the financial summary and background. We answer your questions and arrange a seller meeting when it makes sense.
3
Make an offer
Once the numbers and the reason for sale hold up, we help you put a written offer together. The letter of intent sets the price, the terms and a due diligence window.
4
Due diligence
You and your advisors verify the books, the lease, equipment, staff and customer relationships. If something doesn't match what was represented, this is when terms can change.
5
Closing and handover
Funds, documents and keys change hands, usually through an attorney or title company. The seller's training period begins, and we stay in touch while you settle in.

What It Costs You to Buy Through Us

Registering and reviewing our listings is free for buyers. Our fee is paid only when the seller is paid, with no retainers and no hidden fees on our side. What you actually spend is the purchase price plus the outside advisors you hire, and these factors drive both.

How the deal is priced and structured: Your down payment, any seller financing and whether inventory is part of the price all change the cash you bring to closing.
Buying assets or buying stock: Most small business sales are done as asset purchases, which shapes the taxes and which liabilities the seller keeps. Bring your CPA in early on this.
Advisors on your side: Plan to pay an attorney and a CPA, and at times for an equipment appraisal or an inspection of the premises.
The cost of borrowing: Lender fees, SBA guarantee fees and any reserves a lender requires all raise the amount due at closing.
A cushion for the early months: Rent, payroll and supplies are due before receivables catch up. Set aside working capital so the first weeks stay calm.

What Buyers Ask Us

Who do you work for, the buyer or the seller?: On most listings we act for the seller, and the seller pays our fee. We are still candid with buyers about what we know and help you get the documents you need to decide. We will tell you whose side we are on for each deal, and we suggest you keep your own attorney and CPA.
How much cash does it take to buy a business?: That turns on the price and the financing. SBA borrowers usually put in part of the price as equity, and seller financing can lower what you need at closing. We run your numbers with you on the first call.
How long does a purchase take?: Finding a good fit may take a few weeks or many months. Once a letter of intent is signed, a financed deal often needs a couple of months to close, depending on the lender, the lease assignment and how organized the seller's records are.
Do you have listings beyond Hutto?: We do. We work with businesses throughout the surrounding area, Round Rock, Georgetown, Taylor and Pflugerville among them. Let us know how far you will commute and we will narrow the listings to fit.
What happens if due diligence turns up a problem?: Finding problems is the purpose of due diligence. Depending on the issue, you can renegotiate the price, adjust the terms, have the seller fix it before closing or walk away under the letter of intent. We help you pick the response that matches the problem.
Does the seller stay on to show me the ropes?: Most purchase agreements build in a training and transition period, and you negotiate its length in your offer. We help you ask for enough time to meet key customers, suppliers and employees alongside the seller.

Two men shake hands across a dark wood table in an empty restaurant dining room, with a stack of papers, a pen and a black padfolio on the table

Hear About New Listings First

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send listings that fit, along with the questions worth asking about each one. Registration is free and kept confidential.