Buying a Business in Pennsylvania

Buying a business can yield great profits in the future. However, individuals and companies looking to buy businesses should be aware of the complications of the transaction.

Specific regulations concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations or securities exchanges may be implicated when you buy a business. These areas are all governed by Federal and Pennsylvania 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 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. The process of due diligence uses Federal and Pennsylvania guidelines to protect both parties. If these guidelines are not followed, a party may be found in breach of a legal duty. 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?

How much a business will cost depends on the type of business, how much ownership stake you need to assert control, and the value of the business property. The process for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by specific laws in Pennsylvania. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Berks County Attorney Help?

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