HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business
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The HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business is a practical, step-by-step resource from Harvard Business Review that walks aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of acquiring an existing small business rather than starting one from scratch. Written by Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, two Harvard Business School professors, it combines academic rigor with real-world applicability. Overall, it is one of the most comprehensive and accessible guides available for anyone seriously considering the search-fund or self-funded search path to business ownership.
Key Features & Specs
| Authors | Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, Harvard Business School professors with extensive M&A and entrepreneurship expertise |
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| Format | Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook editions; approximately 256 pages |
| Topics Covered | Deal sourcing, business valuation, due diligence, financing, negotiation, and post-acquisition management |
| Audience Level | Designed for first-time buyers with no prior M&A experience, though seasoned professionals will also find value |
| Publisher | Harvard Business Review Press, part of the well-regarded HBR Guide Series |
| Approach | Combines conceptual frameworks with practical checklists, real case studies, and actionable templates |
| Language | Written in clear, jargon-free prose that makes complex financial and legal concepts accessible to general readers |
Best for: This guide is ideal for mid-career professionals, MBA graduates, or aspiring entrepreneurs who want a structured, research-backed roadmap for acquiring and running a small business without starting one from the ground up.