Business Note Buyers

Business note buyers may purchase all or a portion of the balance owed to you on your business note. You might sell your note to a business note buyer who can give you quick access to a lump sum of cash or sell for a tax advantage by deferring a large sales bill.

Terry Turner, Financial writer for Annuity.org
  • Written By
    Terry Turner

    Terry Turner

    Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator

    Terry Turner is a senior financial writer for Annuity.org. He holds a financial wellness facilitator certificate from the Financial Wellness Foundation and the National Wellness Institute, and he is an active member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).

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  • Edited By
    Savannah Hanson
    Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org

    Savannah Hanson

    Senior Financial Editor

    Savannah Hanson is an accomplished writer, editor and content marketer. She joined Annuity.org as a financial editor in 2021 and uses her passion for educating readers on complex topics to guide visitors toward the path of financial literacy.

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  • Financially Reviewed By
    Timothy Li, MBA
    Timothy Li, MBA Headshot

    Timothy Li, MBA

    Business Finance Manager

    Timothy Li, MBA, has dedicated his career to increasing profitability for his clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Timothy currently serves as a business finance manager where he researches ways to increase profitability within the supply chain, logistics and sales departments.

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  • Updated: September 14, 2022
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 2 Cited Research Articles
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How to Cite Annuity.org's Article

APA Turner, T. (2022, September 14). Business Note Buyers. Annuity.org. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.annuity.org/selling-payments/business-notes/buyers/

MLA Turner, Terry. "Business Note Buyers." Annuity.org, 14 Sep 2022, https://www.annuity.org/selling-payments/business-notes/buyers/.

Chicago Turner, Terry. "Business Note Buyers." Annuity.org. Last modified September 14, 2022. https://www.annuity.org/selling-payments/business-notes/buyers/.

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What Are Business Note Buyers?

Business note buyers are financial institutions or other companies that purchase your business promissory note for cash. In this scenario, you are effectively selling payments owed to you from your self-financed sale of your business.

The business note buyer pays you for the value of these payments — minus a fee. This difference is called the discount rate.

The discount rate varies from company to company and may depend on several factors such as the amount of the down payment made originally on the note, the number of payments you’ve received on your business note, and the profitability of the business.

What Are the Benefits of Selling a Business Note to an Independent Note Buyer?

There are several benefits of selling your business note to an independent note buyer. The reasons are typically shaped by your personal preferences and your financial situation.

These reasons vary from one individual to another.

Benefits of Selling Your Business Note
  • You receive an immediate lump sum of cash.
  • You no longer have to administer — or carry the risk of — your owner-financed loan.
  • You may have a tax advantage in selling a portion of your note rather than the whole note.

How Much Would a Business Note Buyer Pay for Your Note?

There are several factors that determine how much a buyer will pay for your business note. One of the first to consider is the discount rate.

For example, if you had a balance of $500,000 on your business note, and the buyer’s discount rate for it was 20%, the buyer would offer you $400,000 for the note. The buyer would be looking at a potential $100,000 profit from the sale.

But there are other factors to take into account when selling a business note.

Factors Affecting Your Business Note’s Value
Down Payment Amount
The down payment you require for selling your business can affect the discount rate. Most buyers will require you to have received at least 20% of the sale price as down payment. If the down payment you accepted on your business sale was higher than 20%, that can make your business note more attractive to a buyer and they may offer you a lower discount rate.
Nature of the Down Payment
The down payment you accepted for your business needs to have been made in cash — not other assets or in-kind items. If it wasn’t fully in cash, it can increase your discount rate or turn away note buyers.
Term of the Business Note
The term — how long the buyer of your business has to pay off the note — also affects the price. If the term is more than five years, you’ll likely have to accept a higher discount rate.
Note Balance
The balance on your business note — how much the business buyer still owes — may also affect whether you can find a note buyer. Some companies will buy notes with as little as a $25,000 balance. Some may have a maximum limit on how much they will buy — $500,000 to $1 million for instance.
Note Position
Your business note should be the first lien against the business. Buyers are hesitant to buy a lien in the second position and you may have trouble finding a buyer.
Payment History
Most buyers require that the buyer of your business has made at least two monthly payments on your note. Typically, the longer the payment history, the lower your discount rate will be.

How Do I Sell My Business Note?

You typically have the option of selling the full business note — all the remaining payments on the note — or just some of the payments.

4 Steps To Sell Your Business Note
  1. Shop Around for Business Note Buyers

    Your agents are responsible for your finances and health, including your end-of-life care. Do not choose an untrustworthy individual as your agent, even if they are family. You can choose a professional to oversee your DPOA if you feel none of your family members are up to the task.

  2. Compare Offers

    Different buyers will offer different discount rates and other costs, so make sure you choose the best option.

  3. Choose Your Buyer

    Be prepared to provide additional information like your payer’s contact information, proof of payments and additional financial and tax statements.

  4. Sign Necessary Assignment Documents

    The buyer will send you assignment documents that you sign and return.

Once you’ve completed these steps, the buyer will wire your money to you for all or just the part of the note you sold.

The buyer then contacts the payer to switch over payments to the note buyer.

If you sold part of the note, the buyer may switch payments to the buyer for a certain period of time. Then they can be switched back to you — or you can choose to sell another portion of the note.

There can be tax advantages to deferring the sale of your note in this way. Always talk to a professional tax advisor to determine the implications on your taxes.

How Do You Choose the Best Business Note Broker?

You’ll need to compare business note brokers to find the best option for you. This means looking for potential buyers in the secondary note market.

Companies that buy business notes may also buy similar financial contracts such as mortgage notes, real estate notes, commercial notes and security agreements. These are the types of companies you want to compare.

Most brokers will require the note to meet certain criteria before they will buy it — things such as payment history and the balance of the note.

These can also affect the discount rate — and the amount of money the buyer will pay you for the note.

You will need to compare these rules, discount rates and the offers themselves to determine which buyer offers the best deal for your business note. Talking to a professional financial advisor can help you determine what may be the best deal for you in the short or long term.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: September 14, 2022
Written By
Terry Turner, Financial writer for Annuity.org
Terry Turner Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator
  • Member of the National Wellness Institute
  • Emmy® Award winner
  • Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator
View Bio
Edited By
Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org
Savannah Hanson Senior Financial Editor
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Financially Reviewed By
Timothy Li, MBA Headshot
Timothy Li, MBA Business Finance Manager
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2 Cited Research Articles

Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.

  1. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, July 15). Unrelated Business Income from Debt-Financed Property under IRC Section 514. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/unrelated-business-income-from-debt-financed-property-under-irc-section-514
  2. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. (2014). Form 1040 Reporting of Owner Financing & Nontraditional Loans (Installment Sales 1010). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/22-Installment%20Sales%20101.pdf