How do I find a mobile app business for sale in Canada?

An app business rarely sits in the same place as a corner store or a restaurant. Many are listed on online marketplaces built for apps and websites, some are handled quietly by advisers, and others are never listed at all. Because the owner may live anywhere, your search will probably reach beyond your own city. Start with what kind of app you want to run, then work the channels below in parallel.

Marketplaces and general listing sites

Online marketplaces for apps and websites show many small apps, usually with a short summary of the product and its revenue. General business-for-sale sites may carry software and app listings under technology or online headings, so search several terms. Save your searches, and read how each marketplace handles confidentiality and the exchange of financial records before you register.

Brokers and M&A advisers

Some brokers and M&A advisers specialize in technology and will know apps that are not yet public. Ask whom the adviser acts for, how they are paid and what they will share before you sign a confidentiality agreement. Treat their summary as a starting point for your own checks. For the buyer-side steps, see buying a mobile app business.

Approaching owners directly

Every app store listing names a publisher and usually a support contact. A short, polite note that offers a confidential conversation can reach an owner who has never thought of selling. Say who you are, what you look for and how you would keep their information private. Expect many replies to be no, and keep a log of every contact.

Screening a listing quickly

Two questions sort most listings fast. How does the app earn: subscriptions, in-app purchases or advertising? And who holds the developer accounts, the ad-network accounts and the payment accounts? Those answers tell you how much due diligence the app will need. The full list is in mobile app business due diligence.

• Note the revenue source and ask for statements from the store and payment accounts.
• Ask who holds each account and whether it can be transferred to you.
• Ask who wrote the code and who still maintains it.
• Keep a log of every owner, marketplace and adviser you contact.