How do I find a roller rink for sale in Canada?

A roller rink is a single-purpose business, and there are not many of them. Owners often sell quietly to a regular, a manager or another operator, so a public listing is the exception. A buyer who wants one usually has to look in more places, start conversations earlier and be ready to explain who they are and what they plan to keep the same.

Where leads actually come from

Skate clubs, roller derby leagues and speed-skating groups rent floor time and know which owners are tired or planning to leave. Suppliers of rental skates, wheels and rink flooring see equipment orders slow down before a sale. Ask them to pass your name along rather than asking for names. Listing sites and a business broker who works with entertainment venues are still worth checking each month.

Does the building come with it?

Some owners hold the property and the business together, and others lease a large open building. That changes everything about the deal. Ask at the first call which situation it is, because a rink on a short or non-renewable lease is a very different purchase from one on land the seller owns. How do I find an indoor sports complex for sale in Canada? covers similar large-building questions.

First questions once you reach an owner

• How old is the skating floor, and when was it last refinished or replaced?
• How big is the rental skate fleet, and what condition is it in?
• How much of the calendar is birthday parties, school groups and league bookings, and are those repeat customers?
• Who runs the sound, lighting and front desk, and would they stay?

Keeping early talks confidential

A rink is a community place, and word that it might sell travels fast among staff and regulars. Offer to sign a confidentiality agreement before you see the books, and agree who may be told what. What information do I share, and when? explains how to stage that.