As a successful and investigative entrepreneur, you’ve got an eye for what businesses will or will not work for you. You’ve looked at the location, current customer base, and marketing tactics that a business currently has.

But what about the market and industry history surrounding an existing business? Researching the complete history of a business will give you insight on market trends and industry fluctuations through time, giving you a sneak-peek as to what you should expect in the future. Once you discover a potential new business buy, use these tactics to successfully gather the industry and market historical data that you’ll need to make a well-informed decision to buy a business.

1. Talk to the Owner

When inquiring on the acquisition of a business, the best person that you can speak to is the current owner. Most likely, the owner has been involved in the business for years, and perhaps they were the original owner. Gain as much information as possible on market trends, economic patterns of the area, and how the industry/products have managed to keep selling throughout the years.

2. Do Your Own Research

After you’ve spoken with the existing business owner, it’s your time to do some investigative research of your own. Thankfully, internet access can provide you with a substantial amount of information in an instant. Do your own due diligence, and develop a good sense of the business’s target market, trends within the industry, and the potential for growth from within the business.

3. Research the Industry

Having a well-rounded idea of the industry a potential business is in will help you discover if your potential new business buy is worth your investment and time. Research the industry itself by inquiring as to what is happening within the industry, what sort of up-and-coming trends are occurring, and what sort of market opportunities you may be presented with.