What Does Off-Market Mean?
Understand the difference between on-market and off-market businesses.
An off-market business is not publicly listed as actively for sale.
That does not mean the business is unavailable. It usually means the owner is not advertising it as an active public listing, but may still be open to hearing from interested buyers.
An on-market business is actively presented as for sale.
Why SMB.co shows off-market businesses
SMB.co is designed to show more of the market than just the small slice that is publicly advertised at any moment.
That means you may see:
- On-market businesses that are actively listed for sale.
- Off-market businesses that are not publicly advertised, but can still be a fit for outreach.
What to do if you only want active listings
Use the available filters to narrow your results to businesses you want to contact right now.
If you see an off-market business you like, it is still reasonable to reach out. Many owners still review interest even when they do not advertise a public sale.