Can I still get financing if my personal credit is weak but the target business has strong cash flow?

Possibly, though the outcome varies significantly by lender rather than following one fixed answer. Commercial lenders assessing a business acquisition loan generally look at several factors together, including the target's historical and projected cash flow, the buyer's relevant industry experience, available collateral, and the buyer's own personal credit and financial position, rather than treating any single factor as automatically disqualifying.

A strong, well-documented, cash-flowing target can offset a weaker personal credit profile to some degree, particularly if supported by solid financial statements or an independent quality of earnings review, but most lenders financing a small business acquisition will still want a personal guarantee from the buyer regardless of how strong the target looks, since the buyer's ongoing commitment and management matter to the lender as well. Some lenders may respond to weaker personal credit by requiring additional security, a co-signer, or by directing the buyer toward government-supported financing programs, rather than declining the loan outright. Approaching more than one lender, and being upfront about credit history, tends to produce a clearer picture of what is actually available.