Is overpaying better than not buying at all?

May 27, 2025
by a searcher from University of Leeds in Florida, USA
I’d be interested in people’s thoughts: looking to acquire a small business (hundreds of thousands asking price) and due to geographic constraints struggling to find something suitable. The one option we have found is construction related and the seller is looking for 3x multiple on SDE (a little of which is questionable), when###-###-#### seems much more in line with historic and current sales.
The location is perfect though and they are offering to do seller financing after 10-25% down. Are we foolish to go-ahead with the deal, when the alternative is loss-of earnings (from not buying a business) and possibly giving up the search? Has anyone else overpaid for convenience?
in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
from University of Southern California in Del Mar, CA 92014, USA