Buying a Business in New York

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

Federal and New York law concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations and securities exchange sometimes come into play during the purchase of a business

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 balance the positives and negatives, the party buying a business must get a complete picture of the financial position of the business. Through a process called "due diligence", a buyer gains this understanding. Through due diligence, federal and New York guidelines are used to inform both parties, and there may be legal consequences for not following these guidelines properly. However, obedience to the process of due diligence leads to a better informed decision about buying the business. And afterwards, it may also help the ownership transfer to go more smoothly.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

The price of a business mostly depends on how much ownership stake is required for control. The value of the business property and the type of business are also important factors. The process for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by specific laws in New York. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Dutchess County Attorney Help?

The laws in New York place many unique demands on parties seeking to purchase businesses. An attorney in Dutchess County, New York 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.