You can find great opportunities for investments in commercial businesses for sale in Montana. Businesses that are active have an established customer base, source of revenue and business operations. An existing business also may own valuable patents or copyrights.

It is often more expensive to buy Montana businesses for sale than to start a new one, although it is generally easier to obtain financing for an existing business. Investors tend to be more comfortable with a business that has a proven performance.

There are three primary actions to perform before buying a business for sale in Montana:

1. Review the tax returns and financial statements over the last few years for Montana businesses for sale. Montana businesses can measure their growth potential with actual experience rather than conjecture.

2. Examine the current profits for small businesses for sale. Montana businesses will have expenditures such as employees’ salaries, utilities and insurance that you must deduct from the sales revenue.

3. Inspect the operations of prospective business opportunities. Montana businesses may have obsolete inventory, dissatisfied employees or outdated distribution methods.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a Montana business for sale

Many websites offer listings of Montana companies for sale. A listing for a Montana business for sale by owner should show the location, asking price and cash flow, among other details.

I recommend: BusinessBroker.net allows you to select the business location by state, and you may also specify an industry and asking price range in your queries. Go to BizBuySell and select Montana as the business location. You can also narrow the search parameters by selecting the business category and asking price range.

Locate Montana business brokers to help you buy a business in Montana

MT business brokers can identify businesses that are clearly undesirable and help negotiate a price on the best candidates. A business broker also will help you obtain any licenses and permits that Montana requires.

I recommend: Compass Advisors is in Bozeman and provides valuation, acquisition and merger services for its clients. AdvantEdge Advisors in Missoula is a middle market specialist in merger and acquisition services.

Hire a Certified Public Accountant before buying a Montana business for sale

A CPA will need to review the financial records of any business in which you are interested. Additionally, a CPA can ensure that you file any required legal documents.

I recommend: Jordahl & Sliter in Kalispell is a full-service accounting firm that performs business valuation services for clients who wish to buy a Montana business. Galusha, Higgins & Co. has offices throughout Montana with a business services group that provides business valuation and litigation support.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Review the physical assets of the Montana business for sale. You will need to know if the office equipment, machinery and other property is actually in working order. You will also want to inspect the building itself to know if it meets the health and safety standards that Montana requires.