There are many reasons why you’d be looking for a business for sale in Canada in 2024. Some might want to buy a business to expand their domestic investment portfolio. Others, like foreign entrepreneurs, might be looking for Canadian businesses for sale to expand their international investments or perhaps looking to expand their existing business to Canada. On this page, you will learn about the best businesses for sale in March 2024, how to buy a business in Canada, as well as business immigration options for foreign entrepreneurs.
List of Top 15 Businesses for Sale in Canada This December
Below you will find our handpicked top businesses for sale in Canada in March 2024. If you would like to inquire more about any of the listed businesses, we will be more than happy to provide you with more information during our Strategy Meeting and share the Financial Overview of your business of interest with a further breakdown of financial performance.
1. Bakery & Desserts – $150,000
This bakery is located in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia with little competition. It makes an assortment of fresh cookies, cakes, and doughnuts. It is owned and operated by a couple who are looking to retire. The owners are very hands-on with the wife managing paperwork and finances and the husband being the lead baker; however, they are able to train the new owner on how to bake and manage operations. There is also an opportunity to expand on the business’s limited sales and marketing activities.
Business Type: Bakery
Website: N/A
Location: Fraser Valley, BC
Asking Price: $150,000
Ideal Investor Fit: Baking and food service experience; sales & marketing
Reason for Selling: Retirement
Listed By: Owner
2. Food Processing & Packaging – $200,000
A food processing and packaging plant located in Saskatchewan is looking for working partners and investors to get the facility off the ground. The facility will focus on producing South Asian food products: Atta flour, mustard seed oil, and ghee butter.
The plant is located near Canada’s largest agricultural producers. The lower cost of living and wages in the Saskatchewan market will allow for the new facility to operate at competitive prices compared to the established manufacturers located in and around the Toronto and Vancouver markets.
The company already has 90% of its equipment and operations set, along with a contract manufacturing arrangement with a large Canadian brand. It just requires the final investment and work partners to fill key management and labour gaps.
Reason for Selling: Capital and partner requirements.
Business Type: Food & oil manufacturing
Location: Swift Current, SK
Asking Price: $200,000 for 33.3% of a packaging or processing line (negotiable)
Ideal Investor Fit: Investors with manufacturing, supply chain, B2B commercial and sales, and/or agricultural experience.
3. Biobanking Start-Up – $100,000
This start-up from Vancouver will be specializing in hair follicle stem cell biobanking for private consumers. Their value proposition is akin to an insurance policy or investment – freezing hair now when it is young and healthy in case it is needed in the future. The startup believes that hair stem cells can be used soon to develop superior hair loss therapies than those limited options currently on the market.
The current team consists of a global team of medical researchers and marketers. The team is skilled with techniques for isolating, expanding, and freezing stem cells, which have been developed with decades of experience and practice. The startup also has access to patented media transfer technology which can be used to safely transport hair follicle stem cells globally, setting the company apart from its competitors.
The startup is looking for additional investors and capital to grow marketing potential and conduct clinical trials to develop personalized stem cell products.
Reason for Selling: Capital and partner requirements.
Business Type: Canadian Tech Start-Up
Location: Vancouver, BC (but can support the business remotely)
Asking Price: $100,000 for 25% equity
Ideal Investor Fit: The Startup is looking for investors who bring sales & marketing and/or financial expertise.
4. Florist Shop – $245,000
Rated one of the best florist shops in Vancouver, this business specializes in fresh new
designs and a gorgeous selection of bouquets for everyday celebrations as well as corporate events,
weddings and memorials.
Located in the heart of a prestigious neighbourhood, the business has high foot and vehicle traffic
volume. Along with high-quality, locally grown flowers, the business also sells lush potted plans and a
unique collection of pottery, crystals, and artisan gifts.
The business currently employs two employees (1 full-time and 1 part-time) but is primarily led by the
owner. They purchase the flowers and develop the arrangement designs. They also maintain the
business’ strong online presence which includes an online store and Instagram page.
Business Type: Florist Shop
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Asking Price: $245,000
Ideal Investor Fit: Someone with a passion/interest in flowers and/or design as well as sales and
marketing experience.
Reason for Selling: Owner is retiring
Listed By: NAI Commercial
5. Hair & Esthetics Salon – $150,000
This beautifully designed hair salon in Sherwood Park, Alberta offers all hair services and a private
aesthetics room. Consistently rated in the top salons in the area, it is a clean and comfortable space
surrounded by other notable businesses.
The business currently employs nine employees (5 stylists and 2 receptionists) who are trained, certified,
and continuously educated on the most recent techniques, trends, and styles. The business offers
several area-exclusive products and many more high-end brand names. With many commission-based employees, the business keeps its chairs full of clients to the mutual benefit of the salon and its hair
stylists.
Business Type: Hair & Esthetics Salon
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Asking Price: $150,000
Ideal Investor Fit: Experience in the hair/salon industry and/or experience in the esthetics (i.e.,
eyebrow, nails, beauty products) industry as the business has the potential to grow its product and
service offerings.
Reason for Selling: Change in owner’s priorities.
Listed By: Alberta Sales Business Inc.
5. Bakery/Cafe – $150,000
This bakery is located in an increasingly popular neighbourhood in Halifax. Currently, it only produces wholesale products (i.e., bread, and frozen pizzas) for a handful of local restaurants. The owner is at the age of retirement and hasn’t been prioritizing hiring staff and expanding production, despite the demand from customers. There are many opportunities to build on this business, including developing online marketing, opening up the café storefront, which has been closed since COVID, and expanding production capacity.
Business Type: Bakery/Cafe
Website: N/A
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Asking Price: $150,000
Ideal Investor Fit: N/A
Reason for Selling: Retirement
Listed By: Owner
6. Canadian Tech Start-Up – $500,000 USD for 50% equity
This new start-up is an international expansion of the company’s operations in Latin America. It will offer
a full range of services to help companies with “Net Zero” goals -an increasingly adopted goal – to meet
their decarbonization targets. Services include:
- Corporate carbon accounting: measuring and managing the carbon footprint of stakeholders.
- Corporate reduction and compensation strategy: trading carbon credits for regulated and
voluntary carbon markets. - Sustainable project co-development: enabling carbon-offsets origination from technology and
nature-based solutions with end customer influence.
All of the services can be accessed through the company’s proprietary software platform.
The company is looking to establish a Canadian startup entity to capture the mature Canadian
decarbonization market, which is seeing carbon accounting requirements on the rise and favourable
environmental laws and regulations.
Ideal investors can also bring connections with manufacturers and/or agriculture and forestry
knowledge.
Reason for Selling: Capital and partner requirements.
Business Type: Canadian Tech Start-Up
Website: N/A
Location: TBD
Asking Price: $500,000 USD for 50% equity (minimum $100,000 USD for 10%)
Ideal Investor Fit: The Startup is looking for investors/partners who can support with sales & marketing, financial analyses, and technical management
7. Tutoring Centre Franchise – $75,000
The business is located in BC. Sales revenue is between $175,000 – $275,000. Cash flow is between $50,000 – $100,000.
8. Escape Room – $329,997
The business is located in Edmonton, Alberta, and in the 2022 fiscal year, the revenue of the business was $356,000.
9. Art School and Studio – $85,000
The business is located in BC. Sales revenue is $125,000.
10. Physiotherapy Clinic – $129,997
The business is located in Edmonton, Alberta, and in 2021, the revenue of the business was $237,172.
11. Charter Bus Company – $349,997
The business is located in central Alberta, and in 2021, the revenue of the business was $325,000.
12. Tile Retailer – $220,000
The business is located in Surrey, BC. Please contact us to inquire about the sales revenue and cash flow.
13. Locksmith Business – $324,997
The business is located in central Alberta, and in the 2022 fiscal year, the revenue was $374,505.
14. Denture Clinic – $299,997
The business is located in central Alberta, and in 2021 the revenue of the business was $311,574.
15. Pizza Restaurant – $210,000
The business is located in White Rock, BC. Please contact us to inquire about the sales revenue and cash flow.
Others For Sale:
Promotional and Apparel Products Company – $279,997
The business is located in Edmonton, Alberta, and in 2021, the revenue of the business was $398,166.
Liquor Store – $349,997
The business is located in Alberta, and in 2021, the revenue of the business was $600,000.
How to Buy a Business in Canada as a Foreigner
Buying a business in Canada is relatively straightforward for a Canadian permanent resident or a citizen; however, it is drastically different for a foreign investor. When looking at businesses for sale in Canada, foreign investors that want to immigrate to Canada by purchasing a business must take into consideration various business and immigration factors.
Buy an Immigration-Preferred Business – Canadian business immigration law requires your business to have a “significant economic benefit” to Canada in order for you to immigrate as an investor. You can demonstrate your business’s economic impact in three ways:
- By purchasing a business in a government-preferred industry like exports, farming, transportation, etc; or
- By buying a business that is undertaking activities that have “significant benefit” to Canada; or
- By purchasing a business that will generate employment opportunities for Canadians.
Search for the Right Business – Your search for a business for sale must be very specific. You should have an idea of which province you’d like to live in and do business in, even better if you already have a specific city in mind. A professional broker could help you locate a suitable business for you.
Once you have selected various options, you must narrow down the selection. Take a look at the company’s corporate tax returns that were submitted in the past, as well as the GST and HST tax sales. You ideally want to narrow down on businesses that have at least 3 years of operational and financial history and ones that generate at least $300,000 in revenue annually. It would be even better if your experience and skillset could be used to operate that business.
Conduct Due Diligence – If you have narrowed it down to one or a few businesses, it is time for extensive research. At this stage, it is advisable to hire experienced professionals that could audit the business and its likelihood of future success. You should know about any lawsuits, debts, franchisee obligations, zoning problems, or any other issues that may impede the business. If you are considering a particular business for immigration purposes, you must consult a business immigration lawyer to advise you on your purchase. Not all businesses are suitable for immigration, and it is crucial to have the right team for you to achieve your business and immigration goals.
Alternatives to Buying a Business for Immigration
If you are considering business immigration to Canada, buying an existing business is not your only option. You may already have a well-established business in your country, or you may have a start-up idea that you want to develop in Canada. If you are a foreign entrepreneur, you should know that apart from buying a business in Canada, you can also:
- Expand your existing business to Canada – If you already have a well-established business in your home country, you could expand it to Canada and become eligible for permanent residency.
- Start a brand new business in Canada – If you have an idea for a new business in Canada and you have applicable skills and experience to develop your business concept, you can transition to permanent residency after one year of operating your business.
- Establish an innovative start-up in Canada – If you and up to 4 more founders have an innovative foreign business that you want to develop in Canada, you could receive permanent residency in up to two years.
Take these 3 steps to learn more about your business immigration possibilities, and let’s team up to achieve your goals today:
- Step 1: Check your eligibility for business immigration programs using our Free Instant Assessment tool.
- Step 2: Check our fees using our Fee Calculator. Don’t worry if the fees estimated by the Fee Calculator seem too high. We can give you a discount if your case is strong.
- Step 3: Book a 1-hour Strategy Meeting with our senior business immigration lawyer to discuss your immigration case in more detail. If we take you as our next client after this meeting, the fee you paid for the meeting will be applied towards our legal retainer.
