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Author: J. Erika

Home > Articles posted by J. Erika (Page 2)

Once you begin applying for an SBA 7(a) loan, one question comes up quickly and repeatedly: What experience do you have in this line of business? This isn’t arbitrary. The SBA and its participating lenders are trying to assess execution risk. All things equal, a buyer with firsthand industry experience is statistically less likely to stumble in the first critical years of ownership. Prior business ownership strengthens the case further. That logic is sound. The difficulty comes when...

29 December, 2025

For decades, owning a professional practice followed a fairly rigid sequence. Newly licensed doctors, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, and optometrists joined as associates. After years of building clinical experience, savings, and local reputation, a smaller subset eventually considered buying a practice of their own. Ownership came later, often much later, largely driven by financial considerations. Large down payments, conservative underwriting, and the complexity of SBA-backed loans effectively pushed ownership into mid-career. Many capable doctors never crossed that...

24 December, 2025

For much of the last decade, the idea of a “Grey Tsunami” dominated coverage of small business ownership. As Baby Boomers, now about aged 62 to 80, retired en masse, we were told to expect an eye-watering handoff of wealth and assets to younger generations. Its effects would be felt across finance, real estate, and small business ownership. After all, Boomers own just over half of U.S. small businesses, according to Census data. The implication was...

23 December, 2025

When buyers begin exploring opportunities in New Mexico, they’re not only evaluating financials and systems; they’re imagining what it would feel like to step into a business rooted in a place with its own rhythm. Whether they’re moving here from Denver or Dallas or already living in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, or Las Cruces, they want something that feels both stable and has the potential for them to put their own stamp on. The businesses that rise...

14 December, 2025

Selling a small business is a significant milestone. It not only involves financial decisions, legal steps, and lender requirements, but it also introduces a set of emotions that can influence how the process unfolds. While every seller is different, certain patterns appear often enough that they're worth talking about. It is natural for a seller’s emotions to progress from early optimism, to fatigue during the heightened scrutiny of due diligence, to impatience as delays and follow-up...

13 December, 2025

Most first-time buyers come into the process with a stack of articles and checklists, but the actual experience of buying a business rarely matches the neat diagrams. To show what the journey really looks like, let’s follow Marcus and Paul as they work through the acquisition of Opus Bookstore, a long-standing community fixture that fits their investment criteria and their lifestyle goals. The Inquiry, the NDA, and the Personal Financial Statement After weeks of browsing listings, Marcus...

13 December, 2025

When you sell a business, the world tends to focus on the transaction: the price, the terms, the closing date. But what most people don’t see is the emotional journey behind the paperwork. For many New Mexico business owners, whether it’s a family-run automotive shop in Las Cruces or a copy and print shop in Albuquerque, selling isn’t just a financial decision. For most, it’s a life transition. At Sam Goldenberg & Associates (SGA), we’ve seen...

04 December, 2025

Buying a small business isn’t about acquiring a passive investment. It’s about gaining economic agency. In New Mexico, most small businesses are owner-driven operations where your decisions shape the outcome. That isn’t a drawback of the market. It’s what gives buyers the ability to guide the trajectory rather than wait for someone else’s judgment to create value. For many Main Street and lower-middle-market deals, buyers aren’t purchasing a hands-off profit engine. They’re buying an operational base...

25 November, 2025

Taking over a small business is a lot like moving into a new home. Everyone brings their own habits, preferences, and priorities. The previous owners may have loved their Tuscan kitchen, completely unaware of just how dated it now reads. They weren’t wrong; they simply stopped seeing it. The same thing happens in small businesses every day. Even the best-run companies develop blind spots. The owner has been walking past those overstuffed shelves, disorganized files, or tired...

24 November, 2025

Selling a business is rarely a straight line. It feels more like a courtship, complete with first impressions, long conversations, bouts of nerves, and the occasional family drama. In New Mexico, where people value sincerity over polish, this process works best when both sides show up as themselves. No one expects a TED Talk. Buyers simply want to understand your business and the person behind it. Below is what this journey often looks like and why...

21 November, 2025

Selling a business in New Mexico isn’t all red or green. It takes both our efforts to make it happen. Selling a business anywhere is complex, but selling a New Mexico business has its own unique considerations. Our markets are smaller, our networks are closer, and relationships matter. Word of mouth and community trust often do more to build a business than any marketing campaign. Whether you’re selling a home healthcare agency in Albuquerque, a gallery...

12 November, 2025

For many New Mexico business owners, their company represents more than profit. It’s the years of long hours, personal sacrifice, and problem-solving that shaped their identity. So when it comes time to sell and a broker, bank, or buyer presents a number that feels too low, it’s easy to take it personally. In cities like Farmington, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces, where many businesses have been family-run for decades, the emotional investment can be especially deep. Owners...

09 November, 2025

Here’s an age-old conundrum: when your business is thriving, selling it is usually the furthest thing from your mind. When sales start to slip or the market softens, that’s when the siren call of “maybe it’s time” starts whispering in your ear. It’s counterintuitive, but the best time to sell your business may be when it doesn’t feel like the best time. You finally have the right team in place, margins are strong, and operations are...

09 November, 2025

Every business owner reaches a point where they start to wonder: Is it time to sell? Sometimes the answer is obvious. More often, it’s a quieter question that begins to arise after years of hard work It's a consideration that deserves thoughtful reflection. At Sam Goldenberg & Associates (SGA), we’ve guided hundreds of New Mexico business owners through this decision. Whether it’s a long-standing Santa Fe retailer, an Albuquerque manufacturer, or a service business in Las...

09 November, 2025

If you’ve ever thought about selling your business – or buying one – you’ve probably heard the term business broker. But what exactly does a business broker do, and why does having the right team on your side make such a difference? At Sam Goldenberg & Associates (SGA), we help people buy and sell small businesses throughout New Mexico, from Santa Fe and Albuquerque to Las Cruces and the smaller towns in between. We’ve represented everything...

06 November, 2025