While many people are attracted by the low cost of buying a struggling business where they believe they can do better – and reap the rewards – there is always the risk they are deceiving themselves or being over-optimistic.
It may be that there is a demand for its product or service but if a business is struggling, it is struggling for a reason.
So, it is important for the potential buyer to look closely and with care at why the business is in trouble and to ask themselves whether they honestly have the knowledge, skills, stamina and enough finances to be able to bear the loss if a turnaround should prove unsuccessful.
While a degree of self-confidence is important, confronting the reality of the situation is even more so.
Are there issues the struggling business is hiding?
When reviewing the circumstances of a struggling business a degree of scepticism is likely to be needed.
There may have been problems that can be remedied, such as poor management, poor organisation, a lack of funding or lack of financial control.
On the other hand, there may no longer be a market for the product or service, such as when technology has changed as has been the case with the transition from cameras using film to digital photography, or it may be too competitive such as the van delivery market, or the company’s reputation is severely damaged. Often the mountain is too steep to climb and it may be better to walk away.
Are the directors being honest about what has been happening? Are the suppliers who may also be angry creditors likely to be supportive of a restructure attempt? How many employees will have to be retained by the new owner under the TUPE rules and will this place an excessive burden on costs going forward? Will clients stay with you or even come back?
The answers to these questions, and many more, are crucial when considering buying a struggling business.
Are there better options?
If they would be useful to your existing business it may be better to buy the assets of a struggling business, which will be handled by valuers and surveyors.
In this way buying the database of a struggling business may be a more cost-effective way of increasing the customer base of an existing business than marketing to entirely new customers.
It may be safer to pay more for a profitable business with growth potential where the reason for sale is clear such as someone wanting to retire.
There is always a case of “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) so this route isn’t for the feint hearted and you can afford to make costly mistakes.
Get it right and the spoils can be huge, but you are warned.