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The Daily Insight

How do I get finance to buy an existing business?

Author

John Peck

Updated on April 01, 2026

Additional Ways to Finance Buying a Business

  1. Negotiate seller financing. Although some sellers are looking to cash out and never look back, some may be open to being paid over time.
  2. Borrow from friends and family.
  3. Seek out investors or partners.
  4. Use your personal funds.

Can you get a business loan with no deposit?

An unsecured loan does not require any collateral, so there’s no money down (deposit) to get a business loan. With banks tightening credit standards and some eliminating business loans that use residential property as collateral, more business owners have been turning to unsecured business loans.

Can you get a business loan without a down payment?

For startups and other small businesses that either don’t fit the requirements of typical SBA loans or can’t afford the down payment, there are SBA microloans. These loans are for amounts up to $50,000, often with no money down.

How big of a loan can I get for a business?

How much of a business loan you can get is primarily a function of your business’s annual gross sales, existing debt, and creditworthiness. Most lenders won’t lend more than 10% to 30% of a business’s annual revenue. Your company should be cash flow positive after accounting for all debt payments.

Can you start a business without borrowing money?

In fact, sometimes you can get started with little to no funding. (Yes!) Starting a business with no money might initially seem like a far-fetched idea, but it’s not impossible. It’s true that to start and scale any business, you’re going to need more than just extra cash flow.

How can I buy a company with no money upfront or debt?

One way to finance a business with no money down is to do a small business leveraged buyout. In a leveraged buyout, you leverage the assets of the business (plus other funds) to finance the purchase. A leveraged buyout can be structured as a “no-money-down transaction” if one condition is met.

Can a finance company buy an existing business?

Both your existing business, if you have one, and the business you want to purchase have money tied up in assets from vehicles to premises. Asset refinance lets you use that money to fund your new purchase. The finance company will buy the asset from you for an agreed cost, providing you with the cash sum you need.

What do you need to know about financing your business acquisition?

Here’s everything you need to know about financing your business acquisition. Financing the purchase of an existing business is different from financing a new business. Because an existing business already has a track record of success, it’s often easier to get funding for this type of investment than for a brand-new startup.

How to finance an existing business in Canada?

Financing Options when Acquiring a Business. There are multiple ways to finance a business acquisition in Canada, so you need to consider all available options and design the optimal financing structure. Self-Funding This is the quickest way as you use your own cash to finance the purchase.

When to use asset finance to buy a business?

If you are buying a business, you might think that asset finance is a concern for the future, once you are running the business yourself and can see what new equipment you require. However, asset finance can also provide a means of raising cash for any purpose, including company purchase.