Buying a Business in New York

Purchasing 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 occasionally 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 gains 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 acquires this understanding. The process of due diligence uses Federal and New York guidelines to protect both parties. If these guidelines are not followed, a party might be found in breach of a legal duty. However, due diligence will lead to a better informed decision concerning whether you want to purchase the business. Also, it will help the business to transition more smoothly to new ownership.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

The cost 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 procedure for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by particular 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 Garden City Attorney Help?

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