Take a look at your local VAR, who you probably know already. If you respect the local VAR, consider buying that company. You may work with other providers of local services, such as dish installers, or a network security team, or even a provider of outsourced e-mail services.

Some companies on this list will be out of reach.

But I think that someone has a skill set you'd like to add to your company. Maybe you don't need to acquire a corporation; maybe you could build a whole new business line by hiring one person, or a few expensive people.

Maybe you could open up a new buiness line by investing in an expensive piece of equipment.

If you're considering buying another company that's similar to yours, examine several other ways you could spend the money.

Ultimately, it's about how much money you expect to make from your purchase. Modelling the expected profit and making the decision is exactly the kind of responsibility that makes you a leader.

Just remember that leaders can ask for advice, both friendly and professional.