They say the cream rises to the top. 

And especially in a recession buyers tend to look to quality.  Some questions to ask.

• Can the business be scaled beyond any real or perceived dependence on the owner?
• Does the business have its own proprietory products or services?
• Is there a strong management team which will stay on after a sale?
• Does the company have a defensible niche in the market?
• What about the customer base, how long have they been trading with the company - is there a good story on customer retention?
• Is the businses model underpinned by recurring revenue streams?
• Does the busines have growth opportunities?
• Are operating margins strong, and are they holding up?
• What risks does the businss face and are they manageable?
• Are the accounts in good shape, and does the businesas have good systems?