Independent due diligence, legal and accounting work, the government charges in the published schedules, and enough working capital to trade through a first season after closing.
Ask what the deal costs, not the application
Government charges in this category are small relative to the transaction and should be confirmed against the current published schedules when they apply. The meaningful money is spent on the deal itself: independent valuation of a seasonal contracting business, legal work on the agreement and the ownership structure, accounting review of the seller's records, and any environmental or licensing checks the work requires. All of that is incurred before any outcome is known.
Beyond closing, the enterprise needs working capital to operate through a season, and a purchase that consumes every available dollar weakens the answer to whether the business can be more than marginal. Ask the accountant to model the year after closing, not only the purchase. Hypothetical example: a small marine-electronics repair yard is offered for sale with aging test equipment and seasonal revenue.
The first review should produce a purchase-and-runway model that separates acquisition funds, repair equipment, insurance, permits, inventory, payroll, and personal living costs. An independent inspection and current financial statements settle the operating assumptions; the purchase agreement settles which liabilities transfer. Build that model before committing money that cannot be recovered.
What commonly fails is a budget that treats the purchase price as the entire investment and leaves no capacity to operate through a slow season. The question is not only whether funds are committed, but whether the resulting enterprise has a credible basis to function and grow.