How do I find a shed or gazebo business for sale?

Shed and gazebo businesses are small and rarely advertised, so a search under one heading usually turns up very little. Some build on site or in a shop, some sell finished units from a lot, and some do both. A buyer who searches by what the business actually does, and who tells people the search is under way, tends to find more than one who waits for a listing.

Search listings under several names

Owners label these businesses in different ways: storage sheds, garden buildings, pergolas, gazebos, backyard structures, outdoor storage. Try each term on the listing sites and ask brokers who handle trades and construction to flag anything close. Save your searches so a new listing reaches you quickly, since small businesses of this kind can sell privately before a listing is noticed.

Ask the people who supply and serve them

Lumber yards and building-supply counters know which builders buy steadily, and which owners are slowing down. Delivery drivers, equipment dealers and trailer suppliers hear the same news. Introduce yourself, say what you want to buy and leave a way to reach you. Manufacturers that sell through dealers may also know of a dealer who wants out.

Approach owners directly

Look for yards and display lots in the areas you could work in. A short, polite letter or visit to an owner who is not selling can start a useful conversation. Say who you are, what you are looking for and that you would keep things confidential.

Tell a builder from a reseller

• A builder has designs, a shop or build crew, material accounts and often a backlog of orders.
• A reseller lot depends on its supplier agreement, its stock and its location.
• Ask which one a listing describes before you spend time on the numbers.
• Ask how many units are built by the business and how many are bought in.

Once you have a candidate, our page on what to check before buying a shed building business lists the questions to ask next.