How to Find The Safest Business to Buy [Ep.196]

Buying a business is one of the biggest financial decisions most entrepreneurs will ever make. For many first-time buyers, it’s terrifying. You’re putting a meaningful chunk of your net worth on the line and hoping you’ve chosen wisely.

So what actually makes a business safe to buy?

In this episode, Greg Elfrink breaks down the realities of business risk and shares practical criteria buyers can use to separate stable, reliable businesses from the ones that keep you up at night.

Greg starts by reminding us that there’s no such thing as a risk-free business. But some businesses are undeniably safer than others, and the patterns are surprisingly consistent.

One of the strongest signals of safety is age. An older business has weathered economic cycles, algorithm changes, and industry shifts. If it has survived for years, there’s usually a reason. 

Diversified revenue and diversified traffic are non-negotiables. If the business relies on one product, one client, or one traffic source, it only takes one disruption to put everything at risk.

We also dig into how risk levels differ between online businesses and brick-and-mortar operations, and why size matters more than most buyers expect. Bigger businesses often come with stronger systems, cleaner financials, and teams that keep things running, even when the owner steps away.

Finally, Greg outlines the advantages of working with a business broker, especially for first-time buyers navigating due diligence, negotiations, and valuation questions.

If you want a clearer picture of what a safe acquisition really looks like, and how to confidently choose your next business, this episode is for you.

Listen to The Opportunity Podcast Episode #196

Topics Discussed in this episode:

• There’s no such thing as a risk-free business (01:35)
• The older the business is, the safer it tends to be (04:20)
• Diversification of revenue (07:49)
• Look for multiple sources of traffic (10:27)
• Online businesses vs brick and mortar businesses (12:23)
• Size of the business (15:30)
• Benefits of using a business broker (17:50)
• The bigger the business, the less risky it becomes (21:55)

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Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to separate safe businesses from risky ones.