647-348-4995
- August 28, 2026
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Amine Rahal
If you're looking for a business for sale in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Hamilton, Brampton, London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo or anywhere else in Ontario, you're at the right place. I've bought, sold and helped market businesses for years, and in this updated guide I'll break down the best places to find businesses to buy in 2026, compare each platform honestly, and cover the two things most first-time buyers skip: how to vet a business before you sign, and how to finance the purchase.
Where to Find Businesses for Sale in Ontario: Quick Answer
The best places to find businesses for sale in Ontario are the big marketplaces (BizBuySell, BusinessesForSale.com), Canadian platforms like BusinessAtCost.com and Realtor.ca, and brokerages such as Transworld Business Advisors and A R Business Brokers (Aldrin.ca) that also bring you off-market deals. Add LoopNet for commercial property, Flippa and Empire Flippers for online businesses, and your local BIA and network for the deals that never get listed. Serious buyers work several of these channels at once. Here's my honest take on each one.
Quick Snapshot: All Platforms at a Glance
| Platform | Type | Best For | Cost for Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| BizBuySell | Global marketplace | Biggest selection overall | Free to browse |
| BusinessesForSale.com | Global marketplace | Variety + franchises | Free to browse |
| Transworld Business Advisors | Global brokerage | Broker-guided deals, off-market access | Free (seller pays commission) |
| A R Business Brokers (Aldrin.ca) | Canadian brokerage 🇨🇦 | GTA/Ottawa deals + valuations | Free (seller pays commission) |
| BusinessAtCost.com | Canadian marketplace 🇨🇦 | Standardized financials on Ontario listings | Free to browse; $29.90 per unlock |
| Realtor.ca | Canadian MLS 🇨🇦 | Businesses with a physical location | Free to browse |
| LoopNet / CommercialCafe | Commercial real estate | Property + business combos | Free to browse |
| Flippa / Empire Flippers | Online businesses | E-commerce, content sites, SaaS | Free to browse |
| Kijiji / Craigslist | Classifieds 🇨🇦 | Owner-direct bargains (vet hard) | Free |
The Best Platforms & Brokerages, Compared
BizBuySell
GLOBALBest for: the biggest selection of listings in one place.
The largest business-for-sale marketplace in North America. Filter by province, city, industry and price range, and set up saved-search alerts so new Ontario listings hit your inbox the day they go live. Listings typically show asking price, revenue and cash flow, plus broker or seller contact details.
👍 Huge inventory, from main-street shops to seven-figure operations
👍 Free to browse, with solid search filters and email alerts
👎 US-centric, so Ontario inventory is a fraction of the total
👎 Listing quality varies; some are stale or vaguely described
BusinessesForSale.com
GLOBALBest for: international variety and franchise opportunities.
One of the oldest business-for-sale marketplaces online, with a dedicated Ontario section covering everything from convenience stores to manufacturing. It also carries a large franchise directory if you would rather buy a system than an existing standalone business.
👍 Strong Ontario section and good franchise coverage
👍 Free buyer accounts with alerts and saved searches
👎 Contact details sit behind an inquiry form, so responses can be slow
👎 Some overlap with listings you will also see on BizBuySell
Transworld Business Advisors
GLOBAL BROKERAGEBest for: buyers who want a broker guiding the deal end to end.
One of the largest business brokerages in the world: 45+ years in the game, 250+ offices, over 1,000 brokers and more than 15,000 businesses sold, with offices serving Ontario. Beyond their searchable listings, a Transworld advisor can source businesses matching your criteria, including deals that never get published, and walk you through valuation, negotiation and closing.
👍 Full broker support from search to closing, typically paid by the seller
👍 Access to vetted and off-market listings you will not find on the open marketplaces
👎 Smaller self-serve inventory than the big marketplaces
👎 Broker-led pace; less suited to buyers who just want to browse quietly
A R Business Brokers (Aldrin.ca)
CANADIANBest for: a Canadian brokerage with deep Ontario roots.
An award-winning Canadian business brokerage and M&A advisory with offices in Mississauga, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Edmonton, and 372 completed transactions. They handle both main-street businesses under $1 million and mid-market deals, and their valuation work (including their PREScore tool) is useful even before you make an offer.
👍 Canadian firm, IBBA-certified, with strong GTA and Ottawa coverage
👍 Handles valuation, matching and deal support in one place
👎 Brokerage model rather than a big open marketplace, so inventory is curated, not exhaustive
BusinessAtCost.com
CANADIANBest for: transparent, standardized financials on Canadian listings.
A newer Canadian marketplace, currently strongest in Ontario, built around structured listings: every business shows standardized revenue, SDE and asking price data, and the site includes free calculators for SDE, valuation, loan scenarios and deal analysis. Browsing is free; unlocking confidential details on a listing costs $29.90, with bundles at $44.90 for ten and $59.90 for three months unlimited.
👍 Canadian platform with standardized, investor-ready financials on each listing
👍 Built-in valuation and deal calculators are genuinely handy for first-time buyers
👎 Smaller inventory than the global giants, concentrated in Ontario
👎 Confidential details require a paid unlock, and it is a listing platform only, not a licensed brokerage
Realtor.ca
CANADIANBest for: businesses tied to a physical location.
Where retail businesses land first once they hit the MLS: restaurants, gyms, dental clinics, stores and other bricks-and-mortar operations across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and the rest of Ontario. Set up saved searches with alerts, because well-priced businesses move fast in the GTA.
👍 First place many physical-location businesses appear
👍 Canadian data, Canadian agents, MLS-grade listing details
👎 Only covers businesses with real estate attached
👎 You will often deal with a real estate agent rather than a business broker
LoopNet & CommercialCafe
COMMERCIAL PROPERTYBest for: commercial properties that sometimes include the business.
Primarily commercial real estate platforms covering retail spaces, offices and industrial properties. Some listings include the operating business along with the building. Narrow your search with terms like "business for sale" to surface those hybrid opportunities.
👍 Great when you want to own the property and the business together
👎 Business-included listings are the minority; expect to dig
Flippa & Empire Flippers
ONLINE BUSINESSESBest for: e-commerce stores, content sites and SaaS you can run from anywhere in Ontario.
The two leading marketplaces for online businesses. Empire Flippers vets its listings heavily and prices reflect that quality bar. Flippa has far more volume at every price point, from side projects to seven-figure stores, so do your own vetting with extra care there.
👍 Location-independent businesses with verifiable traffic and revenue data
👍 Options at every budget level
👎 Online business valuations swing hard; overpaying is easy without experience
👎 Flippa listings are lightly vetted at the low end
Kijiji & Online Classifieds
CANADIANBest for: bargain hunting, if you vet aggressively.
Kijiji and Craigslist both have business-for-sale sections with genuine owner-direct listings, often from retiring owners who never engaged a broker. But listings are not verified or regulated, so treat every claim as unproven until your accountant and lawyer say otherwise.
👍 Owner-direct deals with no broker layer, sometimes at bargain prices
👎 Zero vetting; scams and wildly optimistic financials are common
Don't Sleep on the Offline Channels
Your local BIA or business district. Physically visiting commercial areas lets you spot "For Sale" signs before anything hits a listing site. You can also contact the Ontario BIA, which oversees business improvement areas across the province and the different districts of Toronto. This works especially well in smaller markets like London, Windsor or Kingston.
Industry associations and chambers of commerce. Many maintain directories or resources sections where businesses for sale get posted, and the people running them usually know which local owners are thinking about selling.
Networking and referrals. Attend industry events and local business groups, and join business communities on LinkedIn, Facebook and Reddit. A surprising number of deals start with a conversation, not a listing: owners nearing retirement often sell to the first credible buyer who asks.
Before You Buy: My Due Diligence Checklist
Finding the business is the easy half. Here's what I'd verify before signing anything:
- Financials, not stories. Ask for 3 years of financial statements and tax returns, not a spreadsheet the seller made. Have an accountant review them.
- Why are they really selling? Retirement is a fine answer. A new competitor opening across the street is a different one.
- Lease terms. For location-based businesses, the lease can make or break the deal, so confirm the remaining term, renewal options and whether the landlord will accept an assignment.
- What actually transfers. Equipment, inventory, staff, supplier contracts, the phone number, the Google Business Profile and its reviews, the website and its rankings. Get it all in writing.
- The digital assets especially. This is my lane: I've seen buyers lose the business's website, domain or Google reviews after closing because nobody put them in the purchase agreement. If the business gets customers online, those assets are part of what you're paying for.
- Legal and tax review. A lawyer for the purchase agreement, and an accountant on share purchase vs. asset purchase, since the tax difference can be significant.
How to Finance Buying a Business in Ontario
Unless you're paying cash, line up financing before you make offers. Sellers take pre-approved buyers far more seriously. Your main options:
- The Canada Small Business Financing Program: a government-backed loan that can be used to buy an existing business or its assets. Our complete CSBFP guide covers eligibility and limits.
- Banks and credit unions: traditional term loans, strongest if you bring a solid down payment and the business has clean books. See our roundup of small business loans in Ontario.
- Online alternative lenders: faster approvals with lighter paperwork. Two we've reviewed in depth are Merchant Growth and Journey Capital; read our Merchant Growth vs Journey Capital comparison and our standalone Journey Capital review.
- Seller financing: very common in small business sales, where the seller finances part of the price and you pay them back from cash flow. It also keeps them motivated to help you transition.
- Specialized financing: buying equipment-heavy businesses? Look at used equipment loans and financing. Credit challenges? Here are financing options for those with bad credit.
Need funding to close the deal?
Merchant Growth and Journey Capital are two of the most flexible online lenders in Canada for business purchases. See how they stack up before you apply.
Compare Merchant Growth vs Journey CapitalAfter You Buy: Set It Up Right
Once the deal closes, three things should happen quickly: update the registration or incorporate under your ownership (our Ontario business registration guide walks through it), get proper coverage in place (see our small business insurance guide), and make a plan to grow what you just bought. Here are 15 ways to market your small business and get more clients.
Businesses for Sale in Ontario: FAQ
What is the best website to find businesses for sale in Ontario?
BizBuySell and BusinessesForSale.com have the largest selection of Ontario listings. For Canadian-focused options, BusinessAtCost.com offers standardized financials on Ontario listings and Realtor.ca covers businesses tied to a physical location. Brokerages like Transworld Business Advisors and A R Business Brokers (Aldrin.ca) add off-market deals. Serious buyers monitor several at once with saved-search alerts.
How much does it cost to buy a small business in Ontario?
Small businesses in Ontario commonly sell for a multiple of their yearly earnings, often 2-4x for main-street businesses and higher for growing or systematized ones. On top of the price, budget for legal and accounting fees, working capital for your first months, and any equipment or renovation needs you spotted in due diligence.
Can I get a loan to buy an existing business in Canada?
Yes. The Canada Small Business Financing Program, bank term loans, online lenders like Merchant Growth and Journey Capital, and seller financing are all commonly used to buy existing businesses, and many purchases combine two or three of these.
Do I need a business broker to buy a business in Ontario?
No, but they help. Brokers like Transworld or A R Business Brokers see off-market deals and handle much of the paperwork, and their commission is typically paid by the seller. Whether you use one or not, you should still have your own lawyer and accountant review everything before you sign.
What should I check before buying a business?
At minimum: three years of real financials, the reason for selling, the lease terms, exactly which assets transfer (including the website, domain, phone number and Google Business Profile), outstanding debts or liens, and whether key staff and suppliers will stay. Get professional legal and accounting review. It's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.
Where are the most businesses for sale in Ontario?
Toronto and the GTA (Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham) have the highest volume of listings, followed by Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Windsor. Smaller markets often have less competition from other buyers and more retiring owners, and some of the best value deals in the province are outside the GTA.
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Tech Entrepreneur, Author, and CEO of Little Dragon Media. Passionate about entrepreneurship, philanthropy, digital marketing, blockchain, finance, investing, health fitness & nonprofits.
