Companies wanted

Buying a business that is not yet for sale?

On Businessforsale.eu there are around hundreds of regular European online businesses for sale and there are also many startups for sale. This is might be the largest selection in Europe and is a great first starting point in your search for a suitable acquisition candidate. We publish new companies for sale almost every day so you have the best chance of success if you keep a close eye on these offer pages. In addition, we will keep you regularly informed (if desired) of new propositions through our email alerts.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

But it could be that you have been actively following our platform for some time and have not yet found your desired acquisition candidate. Or perhaps you are looking for several and a suitable company has recently come along. For these situations, we offer the possibility to pro-actively search for potential sellers yourself. More than 40,000 (!) entrepreneurs are now active on Businessforsale.eu and associated websites and you can reach them by placing a search ad. On this page, we will explain how to place a search ad and why it is interesting.

Businesses wanted for sale via a search ad

Sellers stand the best chance of a successful transaction when they put their business up for sale publicly (but anonymously): this way, the proposition comes to the attention of the most buyers and there is the best chance of finding the right buyer. But not all entrepreneurs are so keen on this: sometimes they are not yet ready to sell and are just toying with the idea. These parties are often already on our platform, reading up on the subject (think of the topics business value and legal matters, for example), but are not yet registered as such. On the other hand, there are also sellers who are ready, but prefer not to expose themselves too much by creating a public (anonymous) sales profile.

And as a buyer, you might want to be able to reach these parties, to have them in your sights 'before the market', so to speak, and perhaps close a good deal faster. To serve these anonymous sellers and buyers like you, it is possible to place a search ad. With this ad, not the seller is findable, but you as a buyer are the one with a public profile and the seller responds to your ad! This keeps the seller shielded from the rest of the platform, if he/she wishes.

Placing a search ad

To place a profile in the 'Wanted' category, you first need an active buyer's account. If you have a seller's account and also want to place a search profile: log out properly first and then create a buyer's account (with a different e-mail address!).

Then log into your buyer account and click on your own account name at the top right of any web page on our site. We lead you to your personal Businessforsale.eu account and there you will find the button 'Place wanted ad' in the left menu. You click on this, after which a pop-up follows with some concrete questions that are essential for creating a good and effective search ad. We will go over the info you share here with you over the phone, before the ad is placed publicly (anonymously) and visible to the 40,000 e-commerce entrepreneurs on our platform.

Introducing yourself

Potential sellers should be able to get a sense of a possible 'match' based on your search ad. A good introduction of yourself (think about your current company, your work experience, your knowledge and network but certainly also your personal situation. Although anonymous, this can give online business sellers just the right incentive and confidence to respond to your search ad.

Description of the business for sale you are looking for

Of course, it is also crucial to clearly state what you are looking for: industry and turnover levels, for example. We see many buyers who like to keep their profile as broad as possible. This is no problem for receiving our alerts: we simply send you all the businesses for sale that are newly posted. However, if you place an ad yourself, our advice is to make it as targeted as possible: that way, sellers (who match) feel best addressed and you avoid pointless responses.

Financing your acquisition

Furthermore, you will see that an ad that features favourable financing methods ('own funds') receives the most responses, because sellers then make the (often justified) assumption that a quick transaction is possible. Financing involving the bank simply has a long(er) lead time.

Let sellers reach out to you!

Are you convinced that a search ad greatly increases your reach among sellers and that such an ad addresses a new target group of potential sellers? Then log into your buyer's account quickly and create a search profile right away. We will be happy to help you!