Buying a Business in West Virginia

The investing in a business can be the quickest route to a great return. Individuals and companies looking to buy businesses should be aware of the complications that can arise, however.

Purchasing a business occasionally involves laws concerning mergers, acquisitions, negotiations or securities exchanges. These fields are governed by West Virginia and Federal law.

What Parts of the Business Am I Buying?

A purchaser of a business in Martinsburg gains a right called "control", which is the right to direct the business operations as they see fit. Control involves ownership of the business assets and customers, along with the company's debts. Accordingly, the party purchasing a business will want a complete picture of the financial position of the business. Through a process called "due diligence", the financials of the company are disclosed. Federal and West Virginia guidelines are used in the process of due diligence, and not using these guidelines can lead to legal consequences. However, the best informed decision about whether to buy the business can only be obtained through obedience to the due diligence process. Added benefits also include a smoother transition once the business is bought.

How Much Will the Business Cost?

How much the right of control will cost depends on how much ownership stake is required. The value of the property of the business might add to the price as well. The procedure for how the right of control can be transferred or modified is defined by particular laws in West Virginia. Procedures may make buying a business more or less expensive than simply the market value of its assets.

How Can a Martinsburg Attorney Help?

The laws in West Virginia place many unique demands on parties seeking to purchase businesses. An attorney in Martinsburg, West Virginia 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.