What Buyers Are Looking For

What are prospective business purchasers looking for these days?  Every type of industry — because buyers come from a variety of industries — such as Corporate America, the restaurant business, the military, manufacturing, homemaking, and so on.  

However, our office has noticed an interesting trend for 2009.  Many people have contacted us about buying small businesses with fewer staff and a smaller, more manageable physical space.  Year to date, the most enquiries we’ve had have been for Florida day care centers/children recreation, small to medium sized Central Florida furniture and antique shops, Orlando gift stores, and any general light retail establishment that is at least 5 years old.  

The bottom line: Profitable businesses still exist, businesses are still being purchased and sold in this current market and new leases are certainly still available.  

And not surprisingly, we’ve have few enquiries for home-based businesses.  Why?  Because this is as much of a tenant’s market as it is a buyer’s market, and landlords are bargaining and also throwing in concessions like assistance with leasehold improvements or new furniture.

The bottom line: Profitable businesses still exist, businesses are still being purchased and sold in this current market and new leases are certainly still available.  We welcome comments from other business brokers and intermediaries across Central Florida and the US.  What are buyers looking for you in your unique market or area?  We will update this report at the end of the summer so you can keep tabs on what is hot in the Central Florida region.