Buying a Business in North Carolina

Buying a business can be a worthwhile investment, but whether it is purchased by an individual or another company, the transaction is complicated.

Buying a business sometimes involves laws concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations or securities exchanges. These fields are governed by North Carolina and Federal law.

What Parts of the Business Am I Buying?

When someone buys a business in Smithfield, they are actually gaining the right to direct business operations as they see fit. This right is called ?control? of the business. Control entails ownership of all the assets and customer base of the business, but it also includes the responsibility for that company?s debts and liabilities. Accordingly, the party buying a business will want a complete picture of the financial position of the business. Through a process called "due diligence", the financials of the company are disclosed. Federal and North Carolina guidelines are used in the process of due diligence, and not following these guidelines can lead to legal consequences. However, due diligence will lead to a better informed decision concerning whether you want to buy the business. Also, it will help the business to transition more smoothly to new ownership.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

How much the right of control will cost depends on how much ownership stake is required. The value of the property of the business may add to the price as well. The process for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by specific laws in North Carolina. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Smithfield Attorney Help?

The laws in North Carolina place many unique demands on parties seeking to purchase businesses. An attorney in Smithfield, North Carolina can inform you of the particularities of your investment as it relates to local law, as well as advise you of the least costly route to acquiring control.