: A snapshot of assets, liabilities, and owner equity to determine the business's net worth. 2. Legal & Organizational Documents
Buying a small business is a complex process that generally takes between for the due diligence phase alone. To protect your investment, you must verify financial records, legal standing, and operational health through a structured review of specific documents. 1. Financial Verification Reports buying a small business
: Federal, state, and local returns are the most reliable documents for verifying reported income and expenses. : A snapshot of assets, liabilities, and owner
: Crucial for evaluating solvency; positive cash flow indicates the business can meet obligations and reinvest. To protect your investment, you must verify financial
: Often prepared by a CPA, this report adjusts for one-time expenses, personal owner "add-backs," and accounting errors to show the business's true earning power.
: These reveal how profitable the business has been over time and help identify declining margins or disproportionate overhead.
You should request financial records for at least the to identify trends and verify profitability.