One extremely effective way of finding good businesses for sale -- other than the "usual suspects" of the Internet and business brokers -- is by talking with your local attorneys.

Now, that doesn't mean you should go out and say, "Hey, I'm going to have to hire an attorney, and the attorney will find a business for me."

That's not what I'm talking about.

No, I'm talking about if you happen to be working with an attorney right now, and the attorney happens to be a friend of yours or maybe the attorney happens to be a person representing you in a case (so you know him), what you should do is sit down and spend some good time with him.

Don't just call him on the phone. Don't try to make up a list of things to send to 50 attorneys in your area.
Tip! ) Make sure your business lawyer is feared by bureaucrats and other lawyers in that sector.

I'm talking about you going out and having a real, live talk with every attorney you know. Have breakfast or lunch with them, spend an hour, an hour and a half, two hours. Spend some good time with them.

Why?

Because each time you do this you're going to find that person is going to know about businesses for sale and will tell you everything you need to know.
Tip! ) Make sure your business lawyer is politically connected in your area.

You see, most attorneys know about businesses for sale because a client has died and they've been asked to help or to sell a business, or they happen to know someone from working in the office who knows of businesses for sale.

And if you also let the attorney know that you're willing to pay him or her a fee for their help, it will only accelerate your progress.

Why?

Because their help can be invaluable. Worth way more to you than the fee you pay them -- which can and should be paid out of the money you make in the business anyway.

Bottom line:

If you want to find good, profitable businesses, with good employees and clean records, you should definitely talk to attorneys you know. And offer them a nice finders fee for their trouble. It more than pays for itself in saved time, frustration and money in the long run.
Tip! Irregular work hours may be the norm: Lawyers quite often have irregular work schedules and even work for several hours in discussing with clients or preparing the briefs of the case during non office hours.

Arthur B. Hamel has bought over 200 businesses in the past 50 years, and is a well-known author, consultant, investor, business owner, and dynamic lecturer who has shared the stage with such business greats as Robert Allen of "No Money Down" fame. For the past 20 years Art has taught thousands of people around the world -- even so-called "little guys" with no formal education or money -- how to quickly and easily buy large, multi-million dollar businesses with no credit, banks or prior business experience. He has recently decided to share his unique business-buying secrets and tactics free of charge at: http://arthurhamel.com