In about 85 percent of all business sales, sellers accept a cash down payment and a promissory note to pay the balance in installments. The note is personally guaranteed by the buyer, and it is secured by the business and its assets in case the buyer defaults. Providing owner financing allows sellers to cater to a broader pool of potential buyers.
However, many sellers dont want to be in the lending business and would prefer not to hold business notes. The good news is: they dont have to. If you created a business note to unload your company, you can sell the note to someone else. This way you can get instant cash out of the business, instead of waiting to receive periodic payments in the future. You can use the cash for a variety of purposes, including: capitalizing on other investment opportunities, paying off debts, funding college tuition and making major purchases.
How Selling Business Notes Works
Business notes are purchased at a discountlike all notes sold on the secondary marketto make them attractive to potential buyers. Without a discount, there is no incentive for investors to incur the risk of waiting three to five years or even longer to...