Purchasing a business for sale in Oregon can be as easy as contacting a broker in the area you want to live. In reality, finding the right business to purchase is usually a long and drawn out affair. You will likely need to visit the area a few times, as well hire a lawyer and develop a relationship with a local bank.

Potential buyers should have a good idea of what they want to do long before looking over the Oregon business listings. Buyers should know what type of business they want to have, where they want the business to be and how much they want to invest. The more specific the answers to those questions, the easier it will be to find the right business for you. Think about this when looking for a business for sale in Oregon:

1. Learn as much as you can about opening and running a small business to avoid common pitfalls.

2. Raise the capital that you need to open the business and use experienced local lenders.

3. Search for business brokers in Oregon that can help you locate the right opportunity.

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

Learn as much as possible before searching for the perfect Oregon business for sale

Preparing yourself beforehand will make the business buying process easier. Business brokers prefer to deal with people who have a good foundation of knowledge about business and knowing the process makes every step smoother.

I recommend: The Small Business Administration (SBA) website provides access to several private and government resources relating to all areas of business, including tax tutorials and online calculators. Many of the forms required to start a business in Oregon are available online. You can both access and find information about the most common ones on the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services website.

Find funding to purchase Oregon businesses

The earlier in the process you secure your funding, the easier it is to discuss the specifics of the purchase and the more comfortable potential sellers will be. In addition, if you're thinking of purchasing a business for sale in Portland, Oregon, try to find financing in Portland as well. Using a local source builds your ties in the community and strengthens the local economy.

I recommend: Search more than 4,000 lenders, many of which with local Oregon branches, at BusinessFinance.com. The Oregon Secretary of State has contact information for local governments where you can find financial information.

Search broker listings that sell businesses in Oregon

Broker listings are a fast way to find an available Oregon business for sale and to gage the economic health of an area. If you are interested in specific business opportunities in specific places, you can often find exactly what you are looking for with just a small amount of searching. Also, the number and types of businesses for sale can be an indicator of an economic up or down turn.

I recommend: The International Business Brokers Association allows only the most qualified Oregon business brokers to join. The IBBA website lists these brokers and information for people who want to buy or sell Oregon businesses. You can also search BizBuySell, one of several business for sale listing sites on the web.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many Oregon business brokers can help you hire local professionals to aid you in finishing the deal. You'll probably need to hire a lawyer for the legal aspect of the transference and an appraiser to look over the buildings and property. Hiring local talent helps you learn more about an area and strengthens your ties to the community.