In eg. A with cash assuming no transaction cost and no earnings...

In eg. A with cash assuming no transaction cost and no earnings in the business, I'm just buying a wad of cash with cash so it answers itself - 10k less whatever price i put on the time and hassle of convincing you to exchange your 10k for my less than 10k in cash.

In eg B. you have stated no earning and no assets only a liability, so you have nothing I want (in this example) apart from my money back. However the fact that the loan exists even if it's not secured would deter any other hypothetical buyers of your business because the business still owes me that 10k so in order for someone else to purchase it the price is effectively 10k more than they would otherwise have had to pay for your business.