Buying a Business to Secure Your Financial Freedom: Finding and Evaluating the Business That's Right for You

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to buy a small business. As Ed points out, a MBA is sometimes a curse when it comes to purchasing a small business. Academia and most business books are geared towards purchasing $50 million companies where the business financials look "perfect" for investors. Ed speaks in plain English the realities in that small business owners work with their accountants to maximize their lifestyles in a business while minimize their taxes. As a business intermediary, I see this daily in the opportunities that we analyze. This very point is what led me into the profession. Small business is different than big business and someone needs to explain this to individuals looking at these opportunities the wrong way. Ed successfully achieves this in "Buying a Business to Secure Your Financial Freedom". On multiple occasions, I have had buyers mention to me that they read Ed's book and that it enlightened them on the realities of small business. These buyers are educated and able to act when they see the right opportunity versus buyers that are not prepared. As far as I am concerned, every university should add a course teaching Ed's principles since small business is what makes up America.

Anyone interested in owning their own business will find Ed Pendarvis's knowledge and real life experiences very helpful.This book provides some easy to understand insight on the process of buying a business and the benefits of business ownership.

In common sense and easy to understand language, Ed gives great insight into the process of buying an existing business. A must read for anyone thinking about jumping into a small business or for someone fearful of losing their corporate job. Easy and entertaining to read.

In a world that over analyzes everything, Ed Pendarvis imparts his experiences in a way that will help everyone interested in buying a small business. The points that he makes are not earth shattering but they are points that are often overlooked when buyers become too number conscious. He makes these points: 1. Buy a business that you like and have some experience in. 2. Buy a business that has been around 5 years or more. 3. Don't let attorneys and accountants make your business decisions for you. 4. While the business may not show large profits on the books look at the longevity and the life style that it provides the owner to get an idea of what it is really doing. He also provides some common sense rules of thumb to determine the value of the business. None of this information is intended to suggest to a buyer that they should not conduct through and rigorus due dilligence or consult their attorney and accountant before completing a purchase. It's just a common sense way of approaching and evaluating a small business purchase.

Mr. Pendarvis is a great writter and has a realistic view of "small business". I have a B.S.-Finance degree, I learned more about small business from this book than I did spending thousands of $$$(students loans) to get the piece of paper that has not served me well. I am a new biz broker in Chicago and must say Ed is right on point. I will use some of his material in my speeches that I give. He has great insight. He and Tom West(whom I have talked to on many occasions)have a great prospective on small biz. Get this book it is easy to read and funny. Thanks Mr. Pendarvis