Business Buyer's Kit: Everything You Need to Know to Find, Buy, and Finance a Business for $500,000 or Less

Rating:
Summary: A must have for anyone thinking of buying a business!!
Review: Having read a lot of business books that try too hard to impress, I found this book conveyed a complex subject in such a simple way that I felt like throwing in my day job come Monday. I am planning to become an entrepreneur in the near future, and now feel 100% more prepared to face the risks.

Even if you're planning to start a business from scratch, I'd highly recommend that you first get your hands on a copy. The author really paints a powerful picture in favor of acquisition and teaches you how you can instantly have a positive cashflow.

Also, where most similar titles gloss over how you should find a business to buy, I can see that the strategy Mr. Smorenburg has developed to match your aptitude to the marketplace makes all the sense in the world and is bound to save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Even if you don't read the book and only use the 300-question checklist at the back, the book is worth ten times its cover price. But don't just stop there, I can highly recommend giving it a read from cover to cover and passing it on to people you like and care about. This is a handbook that offers practical experience in a simple and easy to read format.

I really could not recommend it more highly. Excellent, excellent, excellent. I was very impressed - clearly an author with heaps of experience in the real world.

Rating:
Summary: This one belongs in my personal library
Review: I like the manner Mr Smorenburg approached this complicated subject of business acquisition - simple, clear and complete. It is one of the best investments I made. The book is priceless. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome! Saved me from making the mistake of a lifetime!!
Review: I was going to buy a business and had the opportunity to attend one of Michael Smorenburgs seminars and learn more about the process of buying a business. I bought the book which served as a guide for me and found out that the business I was so excited about buying really didn't suit me and also had flaws in it that I didn't recognize till I put it through the checklist in Business Buyer's Kit. Michael Smorenburg is an incredibly helpfull and enthusiastic person and was also there to answer any of my questions. I emailed him with concerns and he gave his best to help me out! Great guy and great book! He saved me from investing my life savings into a business that would have ruined me financially! This book should be read by everyone who is thinking of owning their own business!!

Rating:
Summary: Not everything you need to know
Review: I would best describe this book as mostly "fluff." This book basically takes a 50,000 ft view of buying a business. In other words, it is very broad and does not give specifics. You might say the reason for this is because the author does not concentrate on buying a business from a specific industry, yet when giving examples he always uses a product based business. Even then the examples are very broad based. And there is little if no mention of a service oriented business.

The only reason I give this book a 2 is because of the worksheets at the end. A person looking to buy a business will probably find the worksheets useful, but that is the extent of value this book provides.

Rating:
Summary: Be prepared! Know your facts!
Review: This book is alarmingly well-organized, well-written and helpful. It's so thorough you'll feel like you paid the highest paid consultant a fortune to learn this stuff! What a help this book is to every one thinking of buying a business. Congratulations on an exemplary book, Mr. Smorenburg. I know it has helped me.

Rating:
Summary: Be prepared! Know your facts!
Review: This book is alarmingly well-organized, well-written and helpful. It's so thorough you'll feel like you paid the highest paid consultant a fortune to learn this stuff! What a help this book is to every one thinking of buying a business. Congratulations on an exemplary book, Mr. Smorenburg. I know it has helped me.

Rating:
Summary: Not everything you need to know
Review: This is not everything you need to know to buy a business, it's not even close. This is a bird's-eye view of buying a business. I would recommend Yegge's books over this one. There you will learn not only the process, but also valuation techniques.