If you have any interest in buying a business, the chances are high that there is something out there that would be a good fit for you. In fact, there are typically tens of thousands of small businesses available at any given moment. But buying a business is a big decision and can also be a significant investment, so you want to make sure you are purchasing a business that is right for you.

While you can seek professional advice and input from others who have been successful at buying businesses, you are the only person who will truly know the type of path that will best suit you. To help guide you as you evaluate your options and make a purchasing decision, following are a few factors to consider.

What are your personal interests?

If you are going to be putting a lot of time, energy, effort, and money into a business, you want it to be something that you are interested in or passionate about. Your ultimate business goal may be to make a good amount of money, but you also want to be excited about what you are working on every single day. For example, if you have a personal interest in living a healthy and organic lifestyle, buying a business that manufactures personal care products that include a lot of different chemicals probably isn’t the best decision. Why buy a business that makes a product you wouldn’t use yourself?

How much capital do you have available?

To put it simply, certain types of businesses and industries require that you have more capital available than others. While you may have grand dreams of purchasing a manufacturing company, you also should be realistic about what you can afford. Maybe you will need to start off with buying a small business that has fewer assets. There are no rules when it comes to buying and selling businesses, so you can always work your way up to get into the industry where you really want to be.

Do you have a lot of contacts in a particular business network?

If you have a lot of connections in a certain business sector, use this to your advantage! Money cannot buy you these networking opportunities, and these existing connections can help you succeed in ways that other business owners cannot.