# Contents Eight parts. One chapter is written. The rest are sketches (outlines). Version 0.1 (early draft), last checked 2026-11-08. ## Part I. Why it matters What a town can lose when its businesses leave local hands, and what this book will and will not do. - [KL-0101 What a town can lose](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0101.md) (sketch): Our view: jobs, giving, and who answers the phone. - [KL-0102 Who we are and what we will not do](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0102.md) (sketch): We teach, we watch public records, we introduce. We do not broker or advise. - [KL-0103 How to read this book](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0103.md) (sketch): Every page has an ID, a date, and a Markdown copy for AI helpers. ## Part II. Spot the fox Is this offer good for my town? Questions to ask before you answer an outside buyer. - [KL-0201 Is this offer good for my town?](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0201.md) (drafted): Five questions to ask about any offer, signs to look at twice, and what to do before you answer. - [KL-0202 Questions to ask any buyer](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0202.md) (sketch): A list you can print and bring to the table. - [KL-0203 Reading the paperwork](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0203.md) (sketch): Where the real promises hide in a letter of intent. - [KL-0204 'Partner,' 'investment,' 'roll-up'](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0204.md) (sketch): Friendly words that can hide a loss of control. ## Part III. Hand it down in the family Plan early, write it down, and talk about it before it is urgent. - [KL-0301 Start early](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0301.md) (sketch): We think a handoff goes best when you start years ahead. - [KL-0302 Write down how it runs](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0302.md) (sketch): Write it down so someone else can run it. - [KL-0303 Talking to the family](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0303.md) (sketch): Who wants it, who does not, and what each one needs. - [KL-0304 Fair is not always equal](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0304.md) (sketch): Ways to treat the family fairly when the business cannot be split. - [KL-0305 When no one in the family wants it](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0305.md) (sketch): Your next choice can still be local. ## Part IV. Keep it in the community Local buyers, workers who buy, and where to find the money. - [KL-0401 Who might buy locally](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0401.md) (sketch): Employees, a neighbor, a younger owner from the next county. - [KL-0402 Workers who own: employee ownership](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0402.md) (sketch): How employees can buy the business over time. - [KL-0403 Co-ops and community-owned shops](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0403.md) (sketch): When customers or townspeople own it together. - [KL-0404 Local loans for local buyers](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0404.md) (sketch): Banks, SBA-backed loans and seller notes. - [KL-0405 Selling in pieces](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0405.md) (sketch): Sell the building, the route, or the equipment to different locals. - [KL-0406 The Opportunities board](https://keepittexas.org/opportunities.md) (coming): Coming: owner-posted businesses and local buyers. ## Part V. Grow your business Tools for young owners: reading your numbers, buying, starting, finding help. - [KL-0501 Reading your numbers](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0501.md) (sketch): Three numbers every owner should know. - [KL-0502 Buying a small business: first steps](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0502.md) (sketch): From 'I wonder' to a first conversation. - [KL-0503 Starting from zero](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0503.md) (sketch): Permits, tax numbers and the first customer. - [KL-0504 Finding a mentor](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0504.md) (sketch): A mentor who has done it before can save you years. - [KL-0505 Hiring and keeping help](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0505.md) (sketch): Good people are the real business. ## Part VI. Stories: saved and lost What happened, in order, and what might have changed it. Public facts, or told with permission. - [KL-0601 What a story here will look like](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0601.md) (sketch): Coming: true stories, told in order. - [KL-0602 How we write a story](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0602.md) (sketch): Our rules: facts, sources, consent, no shaming. ## Part VII. The Watch Public-record signals that a local business may have changed hands. Leads to check, never accusations. - [KL-0701 The Watch](https://keepittexas.org/watch.md) (coming): Coming: a look at public records for outside owners. - [KL-0702 What the Watch will look at](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0702.md) (sketch): Public records that can show a change of owner. - [KL-0703 How to read a signal](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0703.md) (sketch): A signal is a reason to ask a question. - [KL-0704 What a signal is not](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0704.md) (sketch): Not proof, not a verdict, not advice. ## Part VIII. Resources Help from other organizations. - [KL-0801 Where to get help](https://keepittexas.org/resources.md) (drafted): Small business advisers, SCORE mentors, SBA-backed loans, employee-ownership help, chambers. - [KL-0802 Loans for buyers](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0802.md) (sketch): How loans for buying a business usually work. - [KL-0803 Employee-ownership help](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0803.md) (sketch): Where owners and workers can learn more. - [KL-0804 Plain-words glossary](https://keepittexas.org/book/kl-0804.md) (sketch): Fox, ESOP, letter of intent, earn-out, and more.