How to Find Businesses That Are for Sale by Owner

An attractive storefront is ideal for an upscale retail shop.

A business owner may decide to sell a business for several reasons. Maybe his plans and priorities have changed. Perhaps his income and expenses have not been encouraging, and he doesn't want to continue. Although some business owners enlist a business broker to market the business, others opt to find a buyer themselves. If you're on the buying end, there are several ways to find a business to purchase.

Things You'll Need

• Leads from chamber of commerce
• Website information for companies of interest
• Better Business Bureau information on companies
• Zoning or tax office information on companies

Instructions

1. Ask well-connected colleagues for recommendations. A successful business owner tends to form professional and personal relationships in her larger community. These relationships can be developed in the workplace, at her local place of worship or within a volunteer civic group. Ask your colleagues to look for businesses that may be coming up for sale, or whose owners have recently discussed disbanding the company.

2. Get leads from your chamber of commerce. An active local chamber is an invaluable part of the business community. Chambers of commerce publicize business openings and expansions, conduct networking events and serve as a central conduit for economic development within their service areas. Chamber staff may receive advance notice of changes in the status of a member business (See Resources to find your local chamber).

3. Look for "Business for Sale" signs and ads. Once you've decided what type of businesses interest you, visit those businesses as an anonymous customer. Gather information on the physical location, general appearance and level of traffic you observe. While you're there, look for "Business for Sale" signs on the window or posted within the store.

   In addition, keep an eye on the "Business for Sale" ads in the classified section of the local newspaper. If the ad provides the business's location, pay the shop an anonymous visit to see if you want to pursue the opportunity further.

4. Conduct some "due diligence" on your prospects. Once you've developed a short list of businesses that might be for sale, and that also intrigue you, do some research on those companies. Check the company's website for information about the business. Contact your local Better Business Bureau for any complaints about those companies (See Resources to find your local Better Business Bureau). Check your city's zoning and tax offices for publicly available information on the business's operations. Collect as much advance information as possible, and decide which business opportunity you want to actively pursue.

References

• Gaebler.com: Reasons for selling a business
• Taiga: Grow your business through community building

Resources

• U.S.Chamber of Commerce: Chamber directory search page
• Better Business Bureau: Local Better Business Bureau Location Guide
• BizBuySell: Business for Sale search