Step-by-step guides
The whole purchase, one numbered step at a time — what to do, when, who decides, and the official source for every rule.
Buying a small business, step by step
From your first search to your first months as owner, on three paths: an SBA loan, cash or seller financing, or an online business. Every rule linked to its official source.
12 min read
Do you qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan? The requirements after October 2026
Who qualifies for an SBA 7(a) loan to buy a business under the October 2026 rules: citizenship, 10% equity, 1.25x cash-flow cover, the guarantee, and what changed.
7 min read
Financing a purchase with an SBA 7(a) loan
How an SBA 7(a) loan for a business acquisition works: who lends, how much of your own money goes in, how a seller note counts, the personal guarantee, and the term.
9 min read
Due diligence, step by step
What to check between the letter of intent and closing, in order: tax returns against the P&L, add-backs, liens, lawsuits, licenses, the lease, and the people.
10 min read
Closing, and your first months as owner
Asset or stock purchase, the price allocation the IRS asks both sides to report, sales-tax clearance, a new EIN, licenses, employees' I-9s, and the handover.
9 min read