9 Steps to Buying a Business in New Zealand (Simple Checklist)
Buying a business in New Zealand doesn’t need to be complicated. Follow this simple 9-step checklist to move from idea to ownership with confidence.
What Are the Steps to Buying a Business?
The steps to buying a business include defining your goals, setting a budget, finding opportunities, evaluating options, making an offer, completing due diligence, and finalising the purchase.
"Buying a business is always safer and easier than starting one up from scratch. As well as cashflow from day one, you get proven products and systems and get to see how the business has performed in the past - this is very useful when looking to borrow money from the bank."
The 9-Step Business Buying Checklist:
1. Define Your Goals & Strengths
Decide what you want from the business:
- Income or growth
- Lifestyle or scale
- Industry and location
Clear goals help you avoid the wrong opportunities.
Perform a Self-assessment. Build a profile of the key things you enjoy doing and your strengths - your ideal business will contain many of these. Also list the things you don't enjoy doing and any weakness. When you are looking, you will be asking yourself; is this something I'm interested in? Have I the appropriate skills, knowledge, and ability? If not, are these available within or outside the business. Determine how much you are prepared to risk, the hours you will work, and its impact on your lifestyle. Write these down, they will help you stay focused in searching through the many possibilities.
2. Set Your Budget
Work out how much you can invest and how you’ll fund it:
- Savings
- Bank loan
- Vendor finance
Determine your budget. Get a feel for how much you can spend. This will be determined by your cash reserves, equity you may borrow against, the bank and/or vendor finance. Exercise care in taking on too much debt, and ensure you allow for working capital and some cash reserves.
3. Get Expert Advice
Work with:
- Accountant
- Lawyer
- Business advisor
This reduces risk and improves decisions.
Select an accountant and a solicitor. You will need professionals to help. Get recommendations from your bank manager, business advisors and business friends. Interview several - have they the necessary experience in your area of interest, do their resources match your needs, are you happy with how and what they charge. You are selecting a costly but critical resource - you need to be dealing with someone whom you like working with, and who will add value to your business.
4. Search for Businesses
Look for businesses with:
- Consistent profit
- Stable revenue
- Clear structure
Don’t rush - good deals take time to find.
Searching business opportunities. Contact key brokers who operate in your area of interest. Regularly check what's on offer through Internet sites like www.nzbizbuysell.co.nz and other mediums. If you are seeking something specific, then get to know the appropriate trade associations, and tell them you are interested in buying a business. Look to advertise for what you want - ask your accountant or anyone else who may have contact with potential business sellers
5. Evaluate Opportunities
Shortlist the best options and review:
- Financial trends (3+ years)
- Customer base
- Owner involvement
Filter first - don’t commit too early.
Discovery & Evaulation. You have found something that looks interesting, and fits your criteria. Ask the key questions: is it in a growing or declining market, at what stage is its business cycle, is it well located and operated, does it have good systems and resources, and does it have the potential you want? Look at the financials - are they healthy? Do you have a vision for where you could take this business? Is it you - does it fit your profile? The more work done here prior to making an offer, the greater the savings on fees.
6. Make an Offer
Submit a conditional offer based on:
- Price
- Terms
- Due diligence
This secures the deal while you investigate further.
Decision time and making an offer. Prior to going unconditional, gather all your facts, information and projections. Present any legal aspects to your solicitor, and all financials, including projections for the bank, to your accountant. Then present your low-risk business proposal to the bank, to get the okay on some suitable finance. So it feels right - this is your decision, you're comfortable with your advisors advice, and the bank is fully satisfied with the business, and the conditions of your deal - then its time to go unconditional and complete the purchase.
7. Complete Due Diligence & Buy
Verify everything before finalising:
- Financials
- Legal
- Operations
If it checks out - proceed. If not - walk away.
Getting the facts with due diligence. So it's good enough to continue with? You may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement to proceed with your due diligence. Now is the time for the in-depth financial analysis. Do your projections; check the going rates, the market conditions, the strengths and weaknesses of the business? Consult your solicitor and/or accountant to draw up an offer (there are a number of ways to value a business, your accountant will assist with this). Remember you are buying a business, not a job! - Usually your offer will be conditional upon certain aspects being satisfied. On conditional acceptance be thorough, check everything; call in an advisor, an industry specialist, and your accountant and lawyer. This will cost (be specific, ask for quotes), it will be cheaper than getting it wrong.
8. Execute the Takeover
Your primary goal is to secure operations, retain key staff, and establish clear communication:
- Meet with employees & key clients
- Legal & financial overhaul and handover
- Do a 90-day operational & technical audit
- Leverage the previous owners knowledge
Only after you understand the business - formulate your plan going forward
Commence your takeover. You're in business. Time to draw-up a takeover plan. It will cover the handing-over from the out-going owner, managing the affects on culture and staff, and how to maintain continuity with suppliers and customers. A new entity will need to be established, suppliers accounts, bank accounts, insurances and staff contracts, and of-course then there is your new business plan to do.
9. Seek Balance
- Define your life priorities
- Learn your business & have a plan
- Find the right people
Enjoy & seek balance. Create your business plan - manage, monitor and implement your plan by working on your business. Don't try to change it over-night, learn the business first. It will be rewarding and sometimes tough going. Enjoy the process and it's rewards - good luck and every success in your new venture.
Quick Tips for Buyers
- Always verify profit with tax returns
- Avoid businesses reliant on one owner or customer
- Don’t skip due diligence
- Take your time - bad deals are costly
What to Do Next
This checklist gives you the basics.
For a complete breakdown of each step, read our full guide on how to buy a business in New Zealand.
Summary
Buying a business is a structured process. Follow these 9 steps, verify everything, and use expert advice to reduce risk and improve your chances of success.
View our 3min video on What to know when you Buy a Business
By Richard O'Brien - nzbizbuysell
Discover lots of great new business opportunities with our Buyer Bulletins!
- Quickly see what new businesses have been listed in our Free Buyer Bulletins.
- Stay up to date and informed with our monthly Newsletter. This will provide you with essential information and tips for getting into a business.
To search for business opportunities check out the New Zealand Businesses for Sale
Share this article: