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Finding Acquisition Opportunities Online

If you’re looking to acquire a business (or even sell one), you might want to start your search online. Websites such as BizBuySell and BizQuest feature thousands of opportunities to help you find the right match.

If you’re in the market for a business, for-sale listings are searchable by industry category and location and include independent businesses as well as franchises. Listing details include asking price, average cash flow, whether inventory is included, when the business was established, number of employees, why the owner is selling and other specifics such as whether there will be training for the new owner. Brokers are just a click away if you find a listing that interests you.

For sellers, the cost to list your business at BizBuySell ranges from a standard ad rate of $59.95 monthly to $99.95 for a showcase ad, which promises the most exposure to potential buyers. BizQuest offers its standard ad for $54.95 per month and a featured ad for $74.95 and also offers a 30-day, no-risk guarantee.

If you’re not sure how to price your business for sale, both websites provide tips and tools to help you determine the right asking price. You can purchase a two-month valuation report subscription at BizBuySell for $39. The subscription includes pricing rules of thumb, interactive pricing worksheets and unlimited access to comparisons of recently sold and for-sale businesses in your industry.

Both sites also link to articles, forums, blogs and other online resources to help you become a savvier negotiator, no matter which side of the deal you’re on.

Finding Businesses for Sale/Merger Online. There are a number of sites dedicated helping you find M&A opportunities. Examples include eMergers and the Merger Network.

There are also sites, like that for the M&A Advisor newsletter that offer e-mail alerts regarding new opportunities.