Buying a Business in Pennsylvania

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

Buying a business sometimes involves laws concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations or securities exchanges. These fields are governed by Pennsylvania 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. In order to protect the interests of all parties, there must be an accurate and complete picture of the financial position of the business. This picture of the company's financials is gained through a process known as "due diligence". In the process of due diligence, Federal and Pennsylvania 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 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 Pennsylvania. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a West Reading Attorney Help?

In Pennsylvania, the law poses requirements for a party purchasing a business to fulfill. An attorney knowledgeable in Pennsylvania law practicing in West Reading can help you comply with these laws and acquire control of the business you want to buy as cheaply as possible.