Buying a Business in Ohio

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

There are specific laws in Ohio and the US that concern negotiations, mergers, acquisitions and securities exchanges. You may need to consider how these laws impact your situation before you buy a business.

What Parts of the Business Am I Buying?

The purchase of a business in Mahoning County is actually the buying of a right called "control". With this right, a party can direct business operations as it sees fit, it acquires ownership of business assets, and it assumes liability for all business 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. In the process of due diligence, Federal and Ohio guidelines are used to inform both parties. If there is a deviation from these guidelines, one party may be held legally accountable. 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?

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 Ohio. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Mahoning County Attorney Help?

The laws in Ohio place many unique demands on parties seeking to purchase businesses. An attorney in Mahoning County, Ohio 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.