Should You Buy a Business or Invest in One? – 4 Key Considerations

Does the idea of buying or investing in a business excite you?

Welcome to the Club!

Thousands of first-time buyers and investors embark on this fascinating journey every year by putting their money in an existing business. For some, it is the idea of testing their entrepreneurship acumen in an existing business, while for some it is about making their money work hard. However, for many people, the decision is not easy to make – should you buy a business or invest in one?

We have worked with thousands of business owners, buyers and investors over the last few years and have closed multiple deals – both in business buying and investing. In this chapter, we will share a few practical insights from our team to help you understand the varied implications of buying and investing in a business. We recommend that you begin by asking yourself the following questions – the answers to these will help you lead the way towards the most suitable opportunity for you.

Top 4 Question you should Ask yourself;

1. What is your Primary Objective?

Are you looking for complete ownership, control, and a deep-dive into entrepreneurship? Are you excited about building your dream venture? Do you want to be your own boss?

If the answer to one or more of the above is ‘yes’, then buying a running business is more suitable for you. Investors are limited in terms of the amount of control and decision-making power they exercise in a business. Of course, there are various rights of an investor that you can exercise to significantly step-up the amount of control you have – but the owners are still going to have the final say and a much higher involvement in running the business.

2. What is your Professional Background and Industry Experience?

Do you have some experience in the industry to which the business belongs? Do you have prior experience in running a business – either first-hand or through a family member? Do you have adequate network in the relevant domain?

If yes, then buying and running a business on your own will be a lot easier and more appropriate. However, if you are not sure about your background and experience being a good fit for the business, then investing in it might be a less risky proposition.

3. What are the Resources at your Disposal?

Resources are critical when it comes to running a business. Does the business have an existing, well-established team, or do you have to build one yourself? Is there a loyal client base that you can rely on? Are the distribution networks on auto-pilot or will they require your constant supervision? Is the raw material coming steadily from an assured supply base, or is vendor management going to be a constant headache? If most of these pieces are sorted out, both buying and investing are lucrative possibilities. However, if the business is of high potential but still needs a lot of fixing, it might be better to invest your money and help the existing owners figure it out on their own.

4. What are your Existing Commitments?

In reality, the decision to buy or invest in a business is not isolated from other decisions in one’s life. Contrary to popular belief, there is no ‘right time’ to buy or invest in a business. There are no rules – anyone can put money in a business at any point in time, provided their existing commitments are in sync with the decision. Having a wonderful day job that you absolutely love? Invest in a business. Looking for a career transition? Consider buying your dream venture. Do you have significant financial commitments towards your family? Start by investing in a business – consider buying one later. Looking to build an enterprise that will sustain your family for generations? Go for buying a business. These are just a few examples – the best way to go about it is to map all your personal and professional commitments against the two options (buying and investing) and then arriving at the best opportunity for yourself.

We hope that these pointers have helped you decide whether you want to buy or invest in a business. In the next chapter, we explore the various preliminary considerations to be reflected upon before you actually begin the journey.