How do I find an inn or guest house for sale in Canada?

Small lodging properties go by many names, and the name on a listing often says more about the owner’s taste than the business. An inn, a guest house and a bed and breakfast can look alike on paper. That is good news for a searcher, because a wider net finds more. Cast the search wide, then screen each property.

Names to search

Use inn, guest house, bed and breakfast, B&B, lodge, small hotel and country house. Search the hospitality section of each listing site, and also the real estate section, where some owners post the property without mentioning the business. Set up alerts so a new posting reaches you the day it appears.

Brokers and owners

Hospitality brokers often know of sales before they are posted. Ask whom the broker acts for. You can also write directly to owners of properties you admire. Many have thought about selling without ever listing, and an approach with a clear, polite note can lead somewhere.

Screen the listing

Read the listing for signs of a working business: booking history, a website, repeat guests, reviews and staff. If it only describes the building and the land, you may be buying real estate rather than a business. Ask early which it is.

Ask for the basics before you visit: the booking history, how guests find the property, whether the owners live on site, and what staff help them. A short call with the owner or broker can cover a few basic questions before you plan a visit. Leave licensing and zoning questions for your lawyer and the municipality.

For later steps, see what to check before buying a country inn and the guide to buying a bed and breakfast. If you want to own one without living on site, see owning a holiday lodge without running it yourself.