One in five Canadian businesses intends to sell or transfer—how many will change hands?

Whether it’s a small family-run business, such as a farm or shop, a larger corporation, or anything in between, many businesses may be changing hands, according to the latest data from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions.

In the third quarter of 2026, approximately one in five (20.3%) businesses in Canada said that they intend to sell or transfer ownership within the next 10 years. Other businesses either did not intend to sell or transfer ownership within the next 10 years (42.6%), or their plans were unknown (37.1%).

Let’s take a closer look at rates by sector, business expectations and what businesses plan to do if an intended sale or transfer doesn’t go through.

Over one-third (34.4%) of owners in the accommodation and food services sector intend to sell or transfer their business within the next 10 years—the highest rate among sectors, followed by manufacturing (27.7%), other services such as repair and maintenance (27.7%), and wholesale trade (27.3%).

Almost half (49.1%) of businesses in accommodation and food services that plan on selling or transferring ownership intend to do so within the next two years. This may not be a surprise for a sector that includes numerous family-run restaurants and businesses that have remained under the same ownership for a long time.

One in four (25.1%) businesses in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector—including farm operations that have stayed in the same hands for decades—intend to sell or transfer within the next 10 years. More than one-third of them (34.4%) intend to sell or transfer within 6 to 10 years, while others said it would be 3 to 5 years (26.7%), within 2 years (24.7%), or at an unknown date within the next 10 years (14.2%).

According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, three in five farm operators that year were aged 55 years or older, and the average age was 56.0 years. Industry consolidation has led to fewer farms and operators, while land values may also represent a barrier to entry.

Among businesses who reported they intend to sell or transfer within the next 10 years, half (50.1%) expect the business to attract a qualified buyer and over one-third (34.6%) expect to receive a fair market price. 

Almost two in five businesses (38.4%) expect to consult with a professional or advisory support (such as a broker), and about one in four businesses (24.4%) expect to have sufficient time and resources for the sale or transfer process—though rates varied considerably by sector.

Business owners who intended to sell or transfer within the next two years were more than twice as likely to say that finding a buyer in Canada was very important (59.1%) than those who said it was not important (23.2%).

A majority of business owners who intended to sell or transfer within the next two years said it was very important to preserve the business’s culture or values (55.9%), maintain presence in the local community (55.7%), and protect employees (51.7%).

Among businesses that intend to sell or transfer within the next two years but are unable to find a suitable buyer or successor, a majority said they were either likely (33.7%) or somewhat likely (27.6%) to continue operating under the same ownership.

Furthermore, they were very likely (16.2%) or somewhat likely (30.3%) to sell at a reduced value or under less favourable terms, including to a less preferred buyer. They were also very likely (30.0%) or somewhat likely (16.8%) to scale down or close operations.