Buy a Business on Deal One: Listings from Over 80 Sources in One Place
Anyone looking to buy a business used to have to search through many different marketplaces one by one – succession platforms, regional business exchanges, insolvency notices, broker websites. Deal One brings these listings together every day. In this category you’ll find 19,015 companies and businesses for sale from Germany, Austria and Switzerland – from skilled trades businesses to medical and legal practices to mid-sized companies with several million euros in revenue. Every listing shows the industry, region and revenue bracket, and, where known, the asking price, number of employees and reason for sale. Use the filters to narrow the list by industry, federal state, revenue, profit and asking price.
Is There a Difference Between “Buying a Company” and “Buying a Business”?
In everyday language, both terms mean the same thing: taking over an existing operation with its customers, staff and ongoing contracts. Legally, the “company name” (Firma) is just the name under which a business is registered in the commercial register. In practice, anyone buying “a company” is really buying the business behind it – either the shares (a share deal) or the individual assets such as machinery, the customer base and contracts (an asset deal). You’ll find both types of deal here; which one fits depends on liability, tax and the reason for the sale.
Buying a Business vs. Buying a Shelf Company
Don’t confuse the two: a shelf company (GmbH-Mantel) or a dormant company is an empty legal entity with no ongoing operations – what you buy is simply the ready-made legal structure, so you can get started quickly. This category, by contrast, lists active businesses with revenue, staff and an existing customer base. Pure shelf companies are listed separately under Buy a Shelf Company.
How to Find the Right Business
There are three ways to get there. First, filter the list by industry, federal state or country, revenue bracket and asking price. Second, set up a free saved search – new listings matching your profile are then sent to you by email as soon as they appear. Third, browse by reason for sale: businesses out of insolvency have their own category, as do buyer wanted listings from buyers actively looking for businesses.
Guide: How a Business Acquisition Works
From the first enquiry to signing, the process usually takes several months: initial contact and a non-disclosure agreement, reviewing documents, estimating the business’s value, arranging financing, due diligence, and the purchase agreement. What matters at each step, which valuation methods are common, and how the purchase price can be financed is explained in our guide “Buying a Business: Process, Costs and Valuation”. Industry-specific knowledge – for example what matters when buying a petrol station, a property management firm or a tax practice – is covered in our industry guides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Business
What does it cost to buy a business?
The asking price depends on earning power, industry and substance. A multiple of adjusted annual earnings (EBIT) is common. Small businesses often change hands for amounts in the tens of thousands, while mid-sized companies sell for sums in the hundreds of thousands to millions. On Deal One you can filter specifically by asking-price range.
How do I find businesses for sale in my region?
Use the “Federal State” filter or the regional pages at the bottom of this page. For Austria and Switzerland there are dedicated pages listing all offers in that country.
Can I buy a business without much equity?
Yes, if the financing is right: alongside bank loans and subsidised loans (for example from KfW), seller loans, earn-out arrangements and equity investment are all common. It’s rare to do it with no equity at all – banks generally expect the buyer to contribute some of their own capital.
Where do the listings come from?
From over 80 sources, succession platforms and insolvency notices across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as direct listings from owners and advisors on Deal One. Listings are updated daily; offers that are no longer available are automatically removed from the list.
How do I find out about new listings right away?
With a free saved search: register, choose your industry and region – Deal One will email you matching new listings.
