• Historic performance rather than pro-forma
• Immediate cash flow
• Trained employees in place
• Established suppliers
• Established customers and referral business
• Training by the seller included in the purchase price
• Potential of seller financing

A few advantages of buying a franchise are:

• Instant name recognition of a proven product or service
• Ongoing support - you are in business for yourself but not by yourself
• Over 90% of new franchises are successful
• Proven operating systems in place
• Opportunity to add additional franchise locations
• More flexibility in location of business
• Lower Acquiring Cost, as compared to purchasing an existing business
• Training by the Franchisor
• The availability of financing programs, established by the Franchisor

If you decide to purchase a franchise opportunity, be sure you have enough working capital to support the business and your family for two years.

• First consideration is: Do you see yourself working in the business?
• Amount of down payment available
• Total Owner’s Discretionary Earnings
• Location
• What kind of training will the seller provide?
• Can you build sales?
• Can you reduce expenses?

1. We listen to you. We get to know you, your goals, your expectations about the business, your financial requirements from the business, your level of investment and your skills. What do you love to do? What type of business do you NOT want to buy? We will introduce you to businesses that suit your needs.
2. Gateway guides you, step-by-step, through the exploration of available businesses, negotiations, due diligence, financing and, ultimately, to the Closing Table.
3. Results. Gateway Brokers leverage their knowledge, expertise, skills and professionalism to overcome any obstacles arising during the transaction. We keep all parties involved moving efficiently towards the Closing Table. You and the Seller work at arm's length while the Broker works as an intermediary allowing you and the Seller to maintain a working relationship throughout the transition process.
4. We guide you through the process: Gateway Brokers can assist you in getting all paperwork related to the transaction ready. We know the process for preparing for the closing process!

Our primary goal is to find you a business you will enjoy, in your preferred geographic location, with a comfortable cash investment and your expected compensation. We take the time to get to know your background, interests and hobbies so that we can find the best business for you. Ready to take the first step? Contact Gateway today to guide you towards the American Dream!

1. It depends. The answer the Seller likes best is 100% of the purchase price. Understandably, most Buyers prefer to leverage their cash as a down payment leaving money in their account for any unexpected expenses and maintaining financial peace-of-mind for the family.
2. If the tax returns of the business are strong enough to secure bank financing, 20% of the purchase price is typically enough of a down payment for an SBA backed loan. If the purchase price includes more than $500,000 in Goodwill or a Conventional Loan is selected the down payment amount may increase to 25-30%.
3. If the tax returns of the business do not support bank financing, Seller Financing may be an option.

Typically speaking, the higher down payment offered by the Buyer, the lower the purchase price of the business. Remember, you don’t want to commit all your cash. You’ll need some cash on hand for operating expenses, deposits, and other requirements that come along with buying a new business. It is important to have an extra cushion as well for emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and your own piece-of-mind.

As a general rule of thumb, expect to pay 1 to 1.5 times, the annual owner’s discretionary earnings as your down payment. This can vary depending on the circumstances for you and the seller.

Whether is it bank financing or Seller Financing, expect to personally guarantee the loan.

Confidentiality is important to both you and the Seller. Likely, you don’t want your employer to know you are thinking of exiting. A business owner doesn’t want their employees to assume they won’t be needed by a new owner and search out new employment. Protecting the confidentiality of the sale is also protecting the value of the business - the value of the business under the current owner’s stewardship and under future stewardship. Additionally, you should want to preserve these additional valuable elements:

• Employees: You want trained employees who know the daily routine and the inner workings of the business. They are a valuable asset to your company! When you are ready to make the announcement, you should announce in conjunction with the Seller.
• Customers: Concerns that a new owner will not honor warranties may encourage customers to seek other companies that offer similar products or services.

As you can see, confidentiality is critically important to you as the New Owner!

The first step is to complete a Confidentiality Agreement and the Buyer Documents. Your personal information is kept in strict confidence. We do not share or sell any buyer information to parties outside the transaction.

Buyer – Seller meetings and tours are scheduled after hours and on weekends so no employees or customers are on-site.

As the transaction nears closing day, outside parties, such as bankers, appraisers, surveyors, or licensing agencies may need to be brought into the transaction. All outside parties are instructed on the confidential nature of the transaction. We cannot control the actions of outside parties and their approvals many be necessary to get the transaction finalized. However, Gateway does everything in its power to stress and enforce strict confidentiality.

You can trust Gateway to keep your confidentiality a top priority: keeping the sale confidential and protecting the value of your future business.

Negotiations for buying a business can be very stressful. Even those with experience in negotiating may feel they are unprepared to negotiate the purchase of a business. Here are some things to keep in mind during the negotiation process, according to Entrepreneur Magazine.

1. Price is not everything: The terms of the sale matter and should be considered. How the payout will occur, your future commitment to the business, and what relationship you may have with the former owner are all things that you should think about before the final sale.
2. Make strategic concessions: Sometimes, to get what you really want, you’ve got to give away something valuable. This builds good will between you and the Seller. Additionally, you have leverage to ask for something just as or even more valuable than what you just gave up.
3. It’s OK to walk away: It’s very easy to get tunnel vision when it comes to the negotiation process. Keep in mind a specific number that defines your comfortable cash investment. By keeping that number in mind, you help prevent getting into a situation beyond your means.

By working through a Gateway Business Broker, you are negotiating at arm’s length. This buffer keeps emotion out of the negotiations. This protects the relationship between Buyer and Seller resulting in a productive working relationship for the training and transition period. Gateway Brokers have significant experience negotiating successful terms and conditions for the transfer of businesses, with the minimal amount of stress for the Buyer and Seller.

After drafting a Letter of Intent or an Offer to Purchase, completing due diligence and securing financing the closing process begins.

Once the offer is negotiated and the due diligence process finished it is time to begin the closing process. Using a commercial escrow company saves you time and money. Instead of drafting documents, your attorney is focused on the review, negotiation, and finalization of them. Every business sale is a complicated transaction and involves paperwork specific to the individual transaction. Many business experts recommend working with a commercial escrow company and a professional closing officer.

A commercial escrow company facilitates the funding and closing of a business sales transaction. They are a neutral party holding the escrow money. They efficiently handle:

Your Gateway Broker will work closely between you, the Seller, the banker and your financial and legal advisors to keep the transaction moving efficiently to the Closing Table. The longer a deal takes to close the less likely it will close. Your transaction attorney and transaction CPA will balance the legal and financial points to protect your best interests.

Please note: Gateway Mergers and Acquisitions Brokers do not provide any legal, accounting, tax advice or any related services to Buyer or Seller.