More than likely, the right business that meets your needs already exists. There’s a huge number of websites and business brokers who can help you find a business that has already been listed for sale.
One of my mentors has taught me that an often overlooked method to finding the right business is to purchase a business BEFORE it goes to market. This concept is similar to buying a house or getting a job before it’s listed to the general public.
The reason why every business is for sale is because at the right price, EVERY owner will consider selling their business.
You will have a huge advantage in finding your right business if you understand this reasoning. This is the mentality that will significantly increase your chances in finding the right business.
It’s possible to approach a business not currently listed for sale and to start a dialogue with the owner to get them to think about selling.
Interestingly, while my primary objective is to purchase online businesses, by holding the belief that EVERY business is for sale, I’ve found a worthwhile offline business opportunity that I’m currently exploring. All I did was ask about the story of the business because I was interested in the product and now I’m communicating potential acquisition details with the seller.
Under the right conditions deals can be made where both the buyer and seller win.
The whole point of this post is to encourage you to avoid limiting your search to online or newspaper listings. There’s an abundance of options when searching for the right business to buy.
Be open to the idea that there’s a business out there where the current owner just needs you to motivate them to sell at a fair price. They may be ready to sell but just don’t know it yet! 😉