Should you start a business from scratch, buy an existing one, or invest in a franchise? In this episode of the Score Houston Podcast, host and SCORE mentor PV Bala talks to Jeffrey Jones — President of Advanced Business Brokers, certified business appraiser, and a SCORE mentor with over 35 years of experience helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses in the Houston metro area.

Jeff shares insider knowledge on:

· Why buying a business is statistically safer than starting one (90% of startups fail vs. 70% success rate for acquisitions)

· How business valuation works — from tangible assets to discretionary earnings and EBITDA multiples

· SBA loan requirements, seller financing structures, and how deals actually get funded

· The role of confidentiality in business transactions and why brokers are essential

· What corporate professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship should consider

· The Houston business landscape — from restaurants to B2B service companies

· Red flags to watch for in financial statements during due diligence

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a corporate executive exploring business ownership, or a SCORE client looking for guidance on your next move, this conversation delivers decades of real-world brokerage experience in one episode.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.