Acquiring a Retiring Owner's Small Business
Buy an existing small business from a retiring baby boomer owner, as 10,000 boomers retire daily and 10% are business owners. Most small businesses never sell and simply close because owners don't know how to list them, creating acquisition opportunities. Approach as an employee first to learn the business, then negotiate a buyout funded through friends, family, or seller financing.
Startup Budget
$5K – $50K
Difficulty
Intermediate
Business Type
Offline
Location
Anywhere
Time Commitment
Full-time
Revenue Potential
Varies widely; inherit existing cash flow and customer base from day one
Skills Needed
Watch the Full Breakdown

Watch on YouTube — Chris Koerner
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