Being a business owner can be extremely rewarding, and it’s something that many people would like to accomplish at some point in their life. Some potential business owners want to do it for the freedom of being their own boss; others want to do it for the money; and some just want to do it to achieve a career goal.

No matter the reason you want to own a business, there are certain things you first need to know before buying a business.

Determine what type of business you want to own.

Some people want to desperately own a business that they jump right in and purchase the first one they see. This is not a good idea. In order to own a business and run it successfully, it’s important to consider buying a business that you have experience in. For example, if you have worked in the dental industry, then you’d be much more successful buying a dental practice than you would buying a restaurant, as you already know the ins and outs of what makes a dental practice successful. Do your research and determine the types of businesses that would make the most sense for you.

Find a business to buy.

Once you decide which type of business you want to buy, you then need to find a business that’s for sale. You can turn to newspaper advertisements, real estate agents, and even websites dedicated to selling businesses, such as BusinessBroker.com.

Another avenue to take would be to ask friends, family members and coworkers about businesses that they may know that are for sale. Sometimes business owners don’t want to hassle with the media or turn the selling of their business into a long process, so they try to sell the business quietly to avoid all the hassle.

Look into the business’s history and finances.

The last thing you want to do as a new business owner is to invest in a company that isn’t financially successful or stable. This is why it’s extremely important to look into the business’s history and finances. Hire a business auditor to valuate the business for you so that you know if the asking price is in line with the value of the company. Look into the finances of the company to see how the profits and losses have aligned throughout the years. Is the company constantly seeing a profit, or is it often struggling to make ends meet? If there are major financial issues, it may be best for you to walk away.

Make sure this is the right decision for you.

Before you sign any papers that make you the owner of a business, make sure this is the right decision for you. Being a business owner is not an easy task, and it will require you to put in lot of hard work. If you’re looking to just sit back and get paid for doing nothing, owning a business is not the best option.

Not only will you need to put in long hours to transition the company to the new ownership, but you’ll also have to keep putting money into the business to keep it updated and up to any codes. If you have any hesitation about owning a business, consider holding off on the purchase until you know for sure it’s exactly what you want to do.