Guides: buying a business with no money down
Plain-English guides from Josh Li on structuring acquisitions with commercial debt, seller finance and seller rollover, finding off-market deals and getting to a signed LOI.
Deal structures
How to Buy a Business With No Money DownHow to buy a business with no money down: senior debt, seller finance and seller rollover, three real structures, worked examples and the step-by-step process.Seller Finance Explained: How Vendor Finance Works When You Buy a BusinessSeller finance (vendor finance) explained for business buyers: how a seller note works, how terms are set, the risks, and how it combines with bank debt.Seller Rollover Explained: How Equity Rollover Works When You Buy a BusinessSeller rollover explained: how the seller keeps a minority stake instead of cash, why it cuts the funding needed, worked examples and what to agree in writing.The 60/40 Deal Structure: 60% Commercial Debt, 40% Seller RolloverThe 60/40 deal structure explained: 60% commercial debt, 40% seller rollover, no personal guarantee. Worked example, when it fits and what sellers need to hear.The 70/20/10 Deal Structure: 70% Debt, 20% Seller Finance, 10% RolloverThe 70/20/10 deal structure explained: 70% commercial debt, 20% seller finance, 10% seller rollover. Worked example, why retiring owners like it, and the risks.100% Vendor Finance: How to Buy a Business Without a BankHow 100% vendor finance works: the seller funds the whole price and is paid from cash flow. Worked example, when sellers agree, risks and how to structure it.
Financing
DSCR Explained: How Debt Service Coverage Decides Whether a Deal Pays for ItselfWhat DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) means, how to calculate it, what lenders look for and why we structure acquisitions at about 1.5x. For business buyers.What Is an Over-Financed Acquisition (and How Do You Structure One)?What an over-financed acquisition is, how financing covers the price plus working capital and closing costs, and how to structure one safely. For owners.How to Buy a Business Without a Personal GuaranteeHow to buy a business without a personal guarantee: what a PG is, why lenders ask, and how a 60/40 structure with seller rollover replaces it. For owners.
Finding & closing deals
Letter of Intent for Buying a Business: What Goes In It and How to Get One SignedWhat a letter of intent (LOI) for buying a business is, what to include, what is binding, and the 90-day path from first conversation to a signed LOI.How to Buy Your Competitor: Approach, Structure and SynergiesHow to buy a competitor: why it is the fastest way to double a business, how to approach them, the synergies and risks, and how to fund it with seller finance.How to Find Off-Market Businesses for Sale (and Get Owners to Talk)How to find off-market businesses for sale: where to look, how to contact owners who aren’t listed, what to say first, and how to spot a seller who is ready.Questions to Ask a Business Seller Before You Make an OfferThe questions to ask a business seller before you make an offer: motivation, financials, customers, staff, operations, legal and deal structure. For buyers.Due Diligence Red Flags When Buying a Business (and What to Do About Them)The due diligence red flags that matter when buying a business: earnings, customers, staff, legal and operations, and what to do when you find one. For buyers.
Industries
How to Buy a Medical Practice With No Money DownHow clinic owners buy a GP or medical practice with no money down: what you acquire, doctor and patient risks, and how debt, seller finance and rollover fit.How to Buy a Dental Practice With No Money DownHow dental practice owners buy another practice with no money down: valuing chairs and recall, equipment and treatment risks, and the deal structures that fit.How to Buy a Physio or Allied Health Practice With No Money DownHow to buy a physio, podiatry, chiro, psychology or optometry practice with no money down: referral risk, practitioner retention and deal structures that fit.How to Buy a Vet Clinic With No Money DownHow vet clinic owners buy another clinic with no money down: client and staff risks, equipment and drug compliance, and the deal structures that fit.How to Buy an HVAC Business With No Money DownHow HVAC contractors buy a competitor with no money down: valuing maintenance contracts, licence and warranty risks, and the deal structures that fit.How to Buy a Plumbing Business With No Money DownHow plumbing owners buy a competitor with no money down: the accounts and registers you acquire, licence and panel risks, and the deal structures that fit.How to Buy an Electrical Business With No Money DownHow electrical contractors buy a competitor with no money down: valuing compliance and maintenance work, project and licence risks, and structures that fit.How to Buy a Roofing or Solar Business With No Money DownHow to buy a roofing or solar business with no money down: warranty and safety risks, lead flow, and how debt, seller finance and rollover fit lumpy revenue.How to Buy a Landscaping Business With No Money DownHow landscaping owners buy a competitor with no money down: valuing maintenance contracts and equipment, crew and contract risks, and structures that fit.How to Buy a Commercial Cleaning Business With No Money DownHow cleaning business owners buy a competitor with no money down: valuing contracts, wage compliance and client risks, and the deal structures that fit.How to Buy a Security Business With No Money DownHow to buy a guarding, patrol or alarm monitoring business with no money down: what you acquire, licence and contract risks, and how deals are funded.How to Buy an Accounting Firm With No Money DownHow accounting firm owners buy a retiring partner’s fee base with no money down: what the ledger is worth, retention risk, and how vendor finance fits.How to Buy an Insurance Brokerage With No Money DownHow to buy an insurance broker’s book with no money down: what renewal income is worth, insurer agency and licensing checks, and how 60/40 deals work.How to Buy an MSP or IT Services Business With No Money DownHow to buy a managed service provider (MSP) with no money down: what monthly recurring revenue is worth, tooling and cyber risks, and how deals are funded.How to Buy a Marketing Agency With No Money DownHow agency owners buy another marketing agency with no money down: retainer revenue, founder and client churn risk, and why rollover matters most.How to Buy a Recruitment Agency With No Money DownHow to buy a recruitment or labour hire agency with no money down: contract vs permanent revenue, payroll working capital, compliance and deal structures.How to Buy a Restaurant or Venue With No Money DownHow hospitality owners buy a restaurant, bar or venue with no money down: the lease and licence, cash takings risk, and why vendor finance is common.How to Buy a Childcare Centre With No Money DownHow to buy a childcare or early learning centre with no money down: occupancy, service approvals, staffing ratios, lease checks and how deals are funded.How to Buy a Logistics Business With No Money DownHow to buy a transport, freight or courier business with no money down: contracts, fleet and existing finance, safety compliance and how deals are funded.How to Buy a Rent Roll With No Money DownHow property managers buy a rent roll with no money down: what management income is worth, retention and trust account checks, and how deals are funded.