MLS listings through a REALTOR
The largest single pool of BC businesses for sale is the MLS system, because many owners list with a REALTOR who also handles the lease and any property. That is what this site indexes: every BC business and commercial listing released to the CREA feed, organised into category and city pages, with a map search and saved-search alerts. It is the place to start because it is the most complete public source and it updates nightly.
Business brokers and M&A advisors
Brokers who are not REALTORS list on their own sites and on national marketplaces. They tend to handle larger or more specialised businesses and to work from buyer registrations, so register your criteria with several. Expect to sign confidentiality agreements before seeing anything.
Franchisors
Every franchise system knows which franchisees want out. Contact the franchisor's development office for the brand you want and ask about resales in BC; you will need to qualify as a franchisee anyway, so it saves a step.
Accountants, lawyers and suppliers
Owners planning to retire often tell their accountant first. Tell your own accountant and lawyer what you are looking for, and tell the suppliers in the sector: an equipment dealer or food distributor knows which of their customers are slowing down.
Direct approaches
Writing to owners of businesses you admire works more often than people expect, particularly with owners over sixty in trades, manufacturing and distribution, sectors where succession is a known problem. Be specific about why their business, keep it confidential, and be ready to prove you can finance a purchase.
Exclusive listings on this site
Licensed realtors can post businesses that are not on the MLS through our agent portal. Each submission is reviewed before it is published, and the listings appear in the exclusive listings section with the same detail as MLS listings.
A search routine that works
Decide your criteria in writing: categories, cities or regions, a price range, whether the business must include property, and whether you need training or seller financing. Save one search per combination on this site so new listings arrive by email, and check the exclusive listings section weekly. Register the same criteria with two or three brokers and with any franchisor you are considering. Keep a simple sheet of every listing you look at with the date, the asking price, the lease term and the reason you passed; after a month it becomes your own comparables file.
Reading a listing in two minutes
- Confidential location with no name: normal for a going concern; ask the agent for the package after signing the confidentiality agreement.
- 'Business with property' or lot and building sizes on the listing: the price includes real estate and should be compared with commercial property values as well as business earnings.
- Lease rate but no asking price: the listing is commercial space, not a business, even if it appears in a business category.
- Days on market and price reductions: shown on every listing page here; long-listed businesses are negotiations.
- Deal-term tags (turnkey, training provided, seller financing): click through to the sentence they were taken from before relying on them.
Browse listings
Frequently asked questions
Is every BC business for sale on the MLS?
No. Businesses sold through non-REALTOR brokers, franchisors or privately never appear on the MLS. Use the MLS as your base and add the other channels above.
How do I get alerts for new listings?
Create a free account, run a search for the category or city you want, and save it; new matching listings are emailed to you, and a daily digest covers price changes on listings you have saved.
Sources
This guide is general information for British Columbia, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the regulator linked above and with your own lawyer and accountant before you buy.