Buying a Business in New Jersey

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 New Jersey and Federal law.

What Parts of the Business Am I Buying?

If a party wants to direct business operations, the best way is to acquire a right called "control". With control of a business, the party acquires all assets and the customer base of the business, plus it also assumed the company's debts. To make his decision, a buyer will want a complete picture of the financial position of the business. Through a process called "due diligence", a company's financials become clear. In the process of due diligence, Federal and New Jersey guidelines are used to inform both parties. If there is a deviation from these guidelines, one party may be held legally accountable. Following the process of due diligence dutifully is the best way to inform oneself for whether to buy a business. Also if the business is eventually bought, transfers of ownership happen much more easily once the process is followed.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

The price of a business depends on the value of the ownership stake that is necessary to exert control, and this in turn is decided somewhat by the value of the business property and the type of business. There are specific laws in New Jersey that dictate procedure for how the right of control of a company can be transferred and modified, and these procedures may make buying the business cheaper or more expensive, depending on a variety of factors.

How Can a Chatham Attorney Help?

There are unique requirements in New Jersey that a party purchasing a business must fulfill. In Chatham, an attorney knowledgeable in New Jersey law can inform you about the peculiarities of your investment and outline the cheapest way for you to purchase control.