Buying a business allows you to be an entrepreneur without putting in all the hard work to get a startup off the ground. However, you will need to do your homework on the kind of business you would like to buy and make sure that you have access to secure financing.

• Entrepreneur - How to Buy a Business (For-Profit) - Overview of things to consider when buying an existing business
• Fundera - How to Buy an Existing Business (For-Profit) - Step by step checklist for buying an existing business
• SCORE - Buying or Selling a Small Business (Nonprofit) - Checklists and information for those considering buying or selling a small business
• SBA - Buy an Existing Business or Franchise (Federal Government) - Information on purchasing an existing or franchise business
• SBA Learning Center - Buying a Business (Federal Government) - Training on buying a business, including what to research, how to determine value, and how to transfer ownership of a business
• IRS - Do You Need a New EIN? (Federal Government) - Information on situations when you need a new Employee Identification Number
• Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) (Nonprofit) - Provides outreach, information, and preliminary technical assistance to Ohio employees and business owners interested in exploring employee ownership

It’s important to have a plan for how you would like to close or transfer your business.

• FindLaw - Closing a Business (For-Profit) - Overview of legal considerations when closing or selling a business
• FindLaw - Necessary Steps to Dissolve Your Company (For-Profit) - Steps to take when closing a business
• SCORE - Buying or Selling a Small Business (Nonprofit) - Checklists and information for those considering buying or selling a small business
• SBA Business Guide - Close or Sell Your Business (Federal Government) - Information on closing, selling, and transferring your business
• SBA Learning Center - Selling Your Business (Federal Government) - Training on selling a business, including defining a business exit strategy, transferring ownership, and steps to close a business or prepare a sales agreement
• IRS - Closing a Business Checklist (Federal Government) - List of federal tax responsibilities when closing a business
• IRS - Do You Need a New EIN? (Federal Government) - Information on situations when you need a new Employee Identification Number
• Ohio Business Gateway - Closing a Business (State Government) - Closing your business with the state of Ohio
• Ohio Department of Taxation - Closing a Business (State Government) - List of tax responsibilities when closing an Ohio business
• Farm Answers - Transferring the Farm (Public University) - Resources on selling and transferring ownership of a farm
• Farm Commons - Business Structures (Nonprofit) - Free resources for succession planning
• Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) - Selling My Company (Nonprofit) - Provides outreach, information, and preliminary technical assistance to Ohio business owners interested in selling their business to their employees
• Conway Center for Family Business (Nonprofit) - Educational resources and programs for family-owned businesses in Franklin County and surrounding counties.
• Fidelity - Succession Planning for a Business (For-Profit) – Basic resource explaining how to plan for the succession of a business upon the death of the owner.
   

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) is an umbrella term that refers to various options for combining two separate businesses.

• Investopedia - Mergers & Acquisitions (For Profit) - Overview and definitions of M&A
• Investopedia - M&A Advisory Partners (For Profit) - Information and questions for businesses to help identify what kinds of M&A advisory partners they may need.
• FindLaw - Mergers and Acquisitions - Collection of FindLaw articles and information on M&A
• FindLaw - How to Merge Two Companies - Overview of the basics of merging two companies
• SCORE - Merger and Acquisition 101 (Nonprofit) - Educational M&A overview for small businesses
• SBA Business Guide - Merge & Acquire Businesses (Federal Government) - Information on M&A, calculating business worth, and transferring business ownership
• IRS - Do You Need a New EIN? (Federal Government) - Information on situations when you need a new Employee Identification Number