How do I find a hostel for sale in Canada?

Hostels are a small corner of the lodging market, so you will rarely find a page that says “hostel for sale” and nothing else. Most are listed under broader labels, and some are never listed at all. A good search uses several channels at once, and it reads each listing closely enough to tell a working business from a building that happens to have many beds.

Search under the names hostels are listed by

Try hostel, backpackers, guest house, inn, small hotel, motel and bed and breakfast. Browse the hospitality and lodging categories of business-for-sale sites rather than relying on one keyword. Save your searches so new listings reach you quickly. A listing that calls itself a rooming house or a hotel may still be a hostel in practice, so look at the photos and the room descriptions before you rule it out.

Ask brokers and approach owners

Brokers who work in hospitality often hear about sales before they are advertised. Tell them what kind of property you want and where. Ask any broker whom they represent before you share your plans. You can also write to hostel owners directly. Some have thought about retiring and have never listed, and a polite letter can start a useful conversation.

Tell a going concern from a building

Some listings sell a property with lodging zoning, and the business is an afterthought. Others sell an operating hostel with its bookings, staff routines and reviews. Ask which one you are looking at. If the business is included, ask for the financial statements and the booking records early. If only the building is for sale, you are buying real estate and starting a business, which is a different project.

• Ask whether the sale includes the name, the website and the booking platform accounts.
• Ask whether the building is owned or leased, and who holds the lease.
• Ask who runs the front desk day to day.
• Leave licensing and zoning questions to your lawyer and the municipality.

Once you have a shortlist, our page on what to check before buying a country inn covers many of the same questions for a small lodging property.