How To Buy A Business With No Money?

The title of this article might sound strange or even funny. How to buy a business without money? You might wonder, is this even possible, or am I simply trying to grab your attention?

After all, every business in the world is all about making money, unless you’re talking about “monkey business” which means creating a nuisance or being dishonest.

To begin with, we’re not talking about monkey business in this article. Instead, we’ll be discussing how to start a real business that makes money, even when you don’t have money. And yes, that’s possible if you use your brains and skills.

So, how does one go about buying a business without money? As a matter of fact, there’re several ways to buy a business without money. Depending on your skills, education and knowledge, you can find one in your city or somewhere nearby.

Here’re some of the steps that you need to take before setting out to buy a business without money.

Examples of Businesses Bought without Money

Buying a business without money isn’t fiction. In fact, it’s a common practice. In fact, there’re countless businesses that opened without money. These include Google, Airbnb, Apple, Hewlett Packard, Dell, SurveyMonkey, Indeed.com and Shutterstock, to name a few.

The success isn’t limited to the USA only.

Asia’s largest budget airline, Air Asia, was bought over by its current CEO, Tony Fernandes, for only a single Malaysian Ringgit or about 33 cents in 2001, from the Malaysian government. Today it operates across Asia with partners and hubs in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and India, to name a few countries.

These examples amply prove that it is possible to buy or even start a business with no money.

Steps to Buy a Business Without Money

So, if you wish to buy a business with no money, there’re certain important steps to be taken. I will list these steps that could help you in the venture.

1. List Your Skills

In the absence of money, your skills are the greatest asset for any business. Therefore, list the skills you have. That could help identify a good business that would be easy to do. Knowing your own skills also means you don’t need to depend on others to play any specific and important role in the business operations day-to-day operations.

2. Identify the Business

There’re hundreds of business ideas, but not all of them would suit your skills. Therefore, filter these business ideas gradually to arrive at one or two, where your skills and education would really matter. Remember, you can leverage only education and skills to buy a business with no money. Nothing else can work.

3. Location of Business

The third step, and perhaps the most important too is to determine the location of the business. That’s because the location decides the demographics, such as the income of persons living in that area, their spending habits and other criteria that are important for a business to flourish. An online business also needs a good location because it has to operate through a logistical chain.

Also Read: 10 Best States for Entrepreneurs to Start a Business

4. Business Plan

A good businessperson always has a superb business plan. This plan includes the projected market, a road plan for doing business, pricing structures, product or service list, intended clients and advertising ideas. Without a superb business plan, it’s impossible to embark on any venture; regardless you’re buying it with no money or investing billions of dollars.

5. Knowing the Competition

Knowing the competition that your business will face is vital for its success. A lot of entrepreneurs open businesses and try to compete against established players in the market. Grabbing a slice of the market from any competitor is hard. Especially when it comes to combating an older player in the market, competition is extremely hard. Therefore, it’s worth knowing as much as you can about every competitor.

Once you prepare for these factors, there’re ways to buy a business with no money. That, too, requires a lot of research in the market and some extra effort.

How To Buy A Business With No Money?

Once you’re fully prepared to enter a business, there’re a few time-tested and proven ways to buy one without money. It’s worth remembering that it’s not easy to buy a business without money. Yet, if you go about doing things in the right way, it’s possible to buy a business without money.

1. Buy a Closing Business

Sometimes, you will find that a very profitable business is closing down. This might sound inexplicable to many. Actually, there’re several reasons for profitable businesses to close down. The greatest reason is that nobody else in the family is willing to take an interest in that business. Once the owner retires or passes away, the business is destined to fade away too.

If you come across such a business, approach the owner. Discuss the possibilities of continuing the business in its present form, despite a change in ownership. You can bargain over the price to buy the business and offer part-payment once it starts giving you adequate income.

This is the best way to buy a business without money. In fact, founders of several small businesses will happily pass their ownership for a small price, only to keep the brand or the venture alive after they retire or can’t run the business for any reason. Heirs of such business owners might also be interested in your offers.

2. Get Venture Funding

Venture funding comes when you wish to open a business or buy an existing one but need money. This type of capital is available from venture funding companies and individuals. Generally, venture capital is a form of loan: it means you have to repay the lenders. In some cases, lenders will ask for a stake in your business. In other cases, they will demand profit sharing.

Usually, start-ups get venture funding for the first and, at the most, the second years of business. After this initial funding, known as seeding or seed funding, entrepreneurs are expected to begin making profits from the business and commence repayments of the capital amount. The venture funding company or individual takes great risks by giving money to your business.

Getting venture capital isn’t easy. However, startup incubators can help in this process. To attract venture capital, your business should show the promise of being successful and profitable over a period of time.

3. Small Business Assistance

Under this category, there’re several types of funding you could get in the US to buy a business with no money.

Here’re the details:

Small business assistance loans in the United States are designed to provide financial support to small businesses for various purposes, such as starting a new business, expanding an existing one, or recovering from a disaster or economic hardship. These loans are typically offered by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions.

Here are some key types of small business assistance loans available in the USA:

1. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans: The Small Business Administration is a government agency that offers several loan programs to support small businesses. The most popular SBA loan programs include:

a. Loan Program: This is the SBA's primary loan program, providing funding for a wide range of business purposes, including working capital, equipment purchase, real estate acquisition, and debt refinancing.

b. Microloan Program: The SBA's Microloan Program offers smaller loan amounts (up to $50,000) to help small businesses, particularly those owned by women, minorities, and low-income entrepreneurs.

c. Disaster Assistance Loans: The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, or wildfires.

Also Read: How To Get A Startup Business Loan With No Money?

4. Traditional Bank Loans

Many commercial banks and financial institutions offer loans specifically tailored for small businesses. These loans typically have varying interest rates, repayment terms, and eligibility criteria. Requirements may include a solid credit history, business plan, collateral, and a demonstrated ability to repay the loan.

5. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

CDFIs are specialized financial institutions that provide affordable financing options to underserved communities and businesses. They offer loans, microloans, and other financial products to support small businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.

6. Grants and Nonprofit Loans

Various nonprofit organizations, community development agencies, and foundations offer grants and loans to small businesses, often with a focus on specific sectors or demographics. These funds may not require repayment or have more flexible terms.

 7. Online Lenders

Online lending platforms have gained popularity in recent years, offering quick and convenient access to small business loans. These lenders often have more relaxed eligibility requirements and may provide funding faster than traditional lenders.

When applying for a small business assistance loan, you will typically need to provide documentation such as financial statements, business plans, tax returns, and personal credit history. The loan amount, interest rates, and repayment terms will vary based on the lender and the specific loan program.

It's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of any loan before accepting it, as well as assess your business's ability to meet repayment obligations.

Additionally, consider consulting with a financial advisor or seeking assistance from small business development centres and SCORE chapters, which provide free or low-cost mentoring and guidance to entrepreneurs.

8. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one way to buy a business with no money. All you need is a free blog or a social media account. Join any of the superb affiliate programs, such as Amazon Associates for free and start promoting their products online through your social media pages or blogs.

9. Multilevel Marketing

If you aren’t aware, Multilevel Marketing or MLM is also a form of business that you can buy or own for free. For that, you will have to register with any good MLM company and promote their products through your social network and other resources.

10. Freelancing

Freelancers in the US are considered as independent contractors or businesspersons. They sell their skills on freelance websites such as Upwork.com, Fiverr.com and FlexJobs.com, among others. This business can be started for free if your skills can be utilized online.

Closing Thoughts

You can buy or open a lot of businesses with practically zero money in your pockets, purse or bank account. That’s the reason it’s important to identify your skills and find the right market that has the best buyers. One more way is to become a stakeholder in a fully functional business by offering your skills instead of cash investments.