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The Global Insight

What is the best way to finance an acquisition?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on February 10, 2026

The Top 6 Ways To Finance A Merger Or Acquisition

  1. 1 Equity Only—No Cash Needed. M&A activity doesn’t always mean that cash needs to trade hands.
  2. 2 Cash on Hand or Company Profits.
  3. 3 Seller Notes.
  4. 4 Seller Equity.
  5. 5 Banks & SBA Backed Loans.
  6. 6 Private Equity Firms and Family Offices.
  7. Example Deal.

How would you finance the acquisition of a company?

There are two main sources of funds a company may use: debt finance or equity finance. Debt finance involves borrowing money in order to finance the acquisition while equity finance involves issuing new shares….Key methods of equity finance

  1. Rights issues.
  2. Placings.
  3. Cash box placings.
  4. Open offers.
  5. Vendor placings.

What is business acquisition financing?

A business acquisition loan is a small business loan that’s designed for financing the purchase of an existing business or franchise. If you own a business with one or more partners, you could also use this type of loan to finance a partnership buyout.

Where can I get money for acquisition?

How to finance a business acquisition

  • Company Funds.
  • Company Equity.
  • Earnout.
  • Leveraged Buyout.
  • Bank Loan.
  • SBA Loan.
  • Asset-Backed Loan.
  • Issuing Bonds.

How can I finance a business with no money?

How To Start A Business When You Have Literally No Money

  1. Ask yourself what you can do and get for free.
  2. Build up six months’ worth of savings for expenses.
  3. Ask your friends and family for extra funds.
  4. Apply for a small business loan when you need extra cash.
  5. Look to small business grants and local funding opportunities.

What are funding options for small businesses?

The best way to get capital to grow your business

  • Bootstrapping. The funding source to start with is yourself.
  • Loans from friends and family. Sometimes friends or family members will provide loans.
  • Credit cards.
  • Crowdfunding sites.
  • Bank loans.
  • Angel investors.
  • Venture capital.

    What credit score is needed for a business acquisition loan?

    SBA business acquisition loan requirements are strict. You must have a credit score of 650 or better and meet other criteria. When making your purchase with an SBA business acquisition loan, you must generally have $1 in cash or assets for every $3 you borrow.

    How do I buy a business with no money?

    One way to finance a business with no money down is to do a small business leveraged buyout. In a leveraged buyout, you leverage the assets of the business (plus other funds) to finance the purchase. A leveraged buyout can be structured as a “no-money-down transaction” if one condition is met.

    What’s the best way to finance an acquisition?

    But there’s more than one way to fund an acquisition than simply tapping company funds. In fact, there are many acquisition funding options and methods. The right business acquisition finance depends on your business, the business being acquired, and where both are in their cycle.

    What does it mean to get business acquisition loan?

    A business acquisition loan is a loan given to a company for the specific purpose of acquiring another company or asset; it is a common way of financing an acquisition. There are often restrictions that accompany these loans, such as time limits.

    What kind of financing do I need to buy a business?

    The right type of business acquisition financing depends on your situation — for example, whether you are a first-time business owner, whether you already own another business, how much capital you need, and the particulars of the business you’re buying.

    What are the different types of acquisition finance structures?

    Leveraged Buyout (LBO) A leveraged buyout (LBO) is a transaction where a business is acquired using debt as the main source of consideration. is a unique mix of both equity and debt that is used to finance an acquisition. It is one of the most popular acquisition finance structures.