How do I find a mini golf business for sale in Canada?

A mini golf course is a seasonal business, and that shapes how and when it is sold. Owners often decide to sell over the winter, when the course is quiet and they have time to think. Buyers who search only in summer can miss them. Plan to look through the whole year, and keep your financing talks going so you are ready to assess a suitable listing when one appears.

Listings and brokers

Search business-for-sale sites under leisure, recreation and entertainment, and try “golf” and “family fun” as well. Save the search so new listings reach you. Brokers who sell tourism and recreation businesses may know of courses before they are public. Ask what the seller has agreed to share, and whether you must sign a confidentiality agreement before you see the records.

Approaching owners in the off-season

If a course you like is not listed, a letter to the owner in the quiet months is reasonable. Say who you are, what you are looking for, and that you will keep the conversation private. Some owners are curious, some are not, and none owe you a reply. Be ready for a long wait. A good owner may take a year to decide.

Courses inside other businesses

Many courses are part of a campground, a motel, a resort or a larger family fun park, with the owner living on site. Those sales include land, buildings and other lines of income. Ask whether the course can be sold on its own, and who owns the land under it. Check whether the course shares water, parking, washrooms or a snack bar with the neighbouring business, and what happens to those arrangements if you buy only part.

Not the same as a golf course

A full-size golf course is a much bigger purchase, with different land, equipment and staffing. This page is about small courses. If your search takes you toward full-size golf, start with what to check before buying a closed golf course. For checks on a specific mini golf business, see what to check before buying a mini golf business.