Going after businesses as property can be a risky venture, but it can also be rewarding if the name is established as well as the site. The type of businesses in question are those with a brand and storefront. They offer the advantage of taking a desirable location during a time when such property might be obtained at a better price than during a bull market. A business for sale by owner is a chance to renovate a mediocre business or to take advantage of an established site that is no longer a pleasure to the current owner.
It does pay to have information on the history of a business. Visit a website that has details on the nature of the business as well as any relevant customer reviews. A more experienced entrepreneur can see the potential of a venture that someone with less insight and capital did not follow through with. In a way, you are capitalizing on someone else’s research and investment.