Small M&A — Businesses Individuals Can Buy

Browse small businesses you can acquire as an individual or side-hustle buyer, from a few hundred thousand yen up. A lower-risk way to go independent by taking over an operation that is already running, rather than building from zero.

View Small M&A deals→Free advisor consultation
78 open deals

Market Insight

About Small M&A (M&A for individual buyers)

Small M&A is the acquisition of a small business — typically priced from a few hundred thousand to a few tens of millions of yen — by an individual or side-hustle buyer. Tiny businesses that traditional brokers rarely handled, such as a small shop with no successor or a website an owner ran on the side, have become accessible to individuals as matching platforms spread across Japan. Compared with starting from scratch, you take over a business that already has revenue, customers and equipment, so you get going faster and with less risk. The trade-off is that an individual buyer often handles financing, due diligence and the contract personally, so a clear eye for the real earnings and the handover terms is essential. On MANDA you can search small, individual-friendly deals across every industry and region, and filter by price range to find listings that fit your budget.

Related: Turnkey business transfers/E-commerce & online business M&A

Comparison

Small M&A (individual / small) vs. Traditional M&A (brokered / large)

Both routes give you a business to run, but small M&A and traditional brokered M&A suit very different scales and approaches.

✓ Favorable / recommended△ Caution / depends on terms− Unfavorable / costly
Deal size
✓Small M&A (individual / small): From a few hundred thousand yen — within an individual’s reach
△Traditional M&A (brokered / large): Mostly tens of millions to hundreds of millions of yen
Typical buyer
✓Small M&A (individual / small): Individuals, side-hustlers and small companies
△Traditional M&A (brokered / large): Operating companies and funds
How it runs
△Small M&A (individual / small): You often negotiate and verify much of it yourself
✓Traditional M&A (brokered / large): Brokers and advisers guide you throughout
Brokerage fees
✓Small M&A (individual / small): Low-cost — many platforms are even free
−Traditional M&A (brokered / large): High minimum fees are common
Speed
✓Small M&A (individual / small): Small size can mean a relatively quick close
△Traditional M&A (brokered / large): Diligence and negotiation take longer
Best suited for
✓Small M&A (individual / small): Those starting a low-risk independent or side business
✓Traditional M&A (brokered / large): Those pursuing serious expansion or acquisitions

By Category

Browse Small M&A by By type

Sorted by number of listings. Ask an advisor to see off-market deals in any field of interest.

🙋Sole-proprietor transfers19 listings→🛒Online shops & EC782 listings→💆Beauty salons193 listings→☕Cafes & small eateries289 listings→📚Cram schools & lesson studios56 listings→🤖Unmanned & low-staff stores104 listings→📰Websites & media119 listings→

Latest Deals

Latest Small M&A deals

View all →
MANDA
30+ days ago

Information Site for Sole Proprietors and Freelancers

KantoInformation Services
Asking price¥600,000
MANDA
30+ days ago

[Tenjin / Popular Area] Slimming Aesthetic Salon ■ Fully Private Salon

KyushuEsthetic Salons
Asking price¥1.5M
MANDA
30+ days ago

[Saitama Pref. / Popular Area] Body-Slimming Esthetic Salon Operation ■Fully Private Salon

KantoEsthetic Salons
Asking price¥5M
MANDA
30+ days ago

Body-Slimming Beauty Salon (5-Minute Walk from Shibuya Station / Popular Area) - Fully Private Salon

KantoEsthetic Salons
Asking price¥2.5M
MANDA
30+ days ago

[Popular Area in Osaka City / 5-min walk from station] Body-Slimming Esthetic Salon ■ Fully Private Salon

KinkiEsthetic Salons
Asking price¥3M
MANDA
30+ days ago

Body-Slimming Beauty Salon (5-Minute Walk from Sapporo Station / Popular Area) - Fully Private Salon

HokkaidoEsthetic Salons
Asking price¥1.5M
💬

There are currently 78 open deals. Even if few match your criteria, a free consultation with an advisor can introduce off-market Small M&A deals not listed on the site.

By Area

Browse Small M&A by area

Listing counts for major areas. Click to see search results for each area.

Hokkaido1 dealTohoku—Kanto78 dealsChubu2 dealsKinki9 dealsChugoku3 dealsShikoku—Kyushu7 deals

Checklist

What to check before taking over a Small M&A business

1

The real earnings

Confirm the stated figures reflect durable earnings by checking primary records — tax returns, bank statements and the like.

2

Dependence on the owner

Check whether sales hinge on the owner’s skills or contacts, and whether you could realistically run the business yourself after taking over.

3

Handover terms & training

Clarify how much of the know-how, suppliers and staff transfer, and whether the seller provides handover support or a training period.

4

Transfer of contracts & accounts

Verify in advance that the lease, licenses, domain, social and other accounts can be transferred or renamed cleanly.

5

Hidden debt & liabilities

Screen for lease balances, unpaid bills and guarantees that do not appear on the surface. The more individual the deal, the more the contract must spell out the scope.

6

Funding plan

Plan for working capital after the handover, not just the purchase price. Consider small-business financing such as loans from the Japan Finance Corporation.

Price Guide

Small M&A price guide

Small M&A prices vary widely with business size, profit and the scope of the transfer. There is no flat market rate — the quickest route is to start from a price range that fits your budget.

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Profit & revenue scale

Even small businesses command higher prices when they earn steady profits.

🛠️

Equipment & inventory value

The value of transferable assets — interior, equipment, inventory — forms the price floor.

🌐

Intangible assets

Regulars, members, social following and search rankings add value beyond the numbers.

🤝

Scope of the transfer

The price shifts with whether the deal is fixtures only, or also goodwill, suppliers and staff.

Browse by deal size

Prices vary widely by deal. Check listings by price range to get a realistic sense of the market.

Up to ¥10M (approx. US$65K)
75 deals→
¥10M–50M (US$65K–330K)
14 deals→
¥50M–100M (US$330K–650K)
4 deals→
Over ¥100M (US$650K+)
5 deals→
ℹPrices depend heavily on scale, profit and transfer scope, so there is no universal rate. Start from a price range that fits your budget and browse the actual listings.

Who is it for

Who uses MANDA

👤

Owners considering business succession

For owners without a successor who want to pass on a healthy business. MANDA helps you find the right partner among buyer candidates nationwide.

🚀

Buyers looking to grow

For companies seeking scale by acquiring strong businesses in the same industry. Advisors with sector expertise match you with the right deals.

🌱

Companies entering new markets

For companies exploring entry into a new industry. Many deals let you acquire an existing business together with its people and customer base.

Start with a free advisor consultation →

How it works

The M&A / business succession process

  1. STEP 01

    Consult an advisor

    An advisor with industry expertise hears your goals and requirements.

  2. STEP 02

    Deal matching

    Shortlist candidates anonymously and align intentions with the other party.

  3. STEP 03

    Due diligence

    Detailed financial, legal, and business review, with terms negotiated in parallel.

  4. STEP 04

    Agreement → Closing

    Sign the letter of intent and the definitive agreement, then close.

STEP 1: Get a free advisor consultation →

FAQ

FAQ

QWhat is small M&A (individual M&A)?⌄
It is the acquisition of a small business — typically a few hundred thousand to a few tens of millions of yen — by an individual or side-hustle buyer, via a business or share transfer. As matching platforms have spread in Japan, even small deals that brokers rarely handled have become accessible to individuals.
QCan an individual really buy a company or business?⌄
Yes. Many listings are small, low-priced or inventory-free, making them accessible to individuals and side-business buyers. Start by checking the profit and handover terms, and make sure you can keep running the operation yourself.
QWhat is the entry price?⌄
Some deals start from a few hundred thousand to a few million yen, so you can search to fit your budget. MANDA lets you filter by price range — begin with a comfortable bracket, and remember to budget working capital on top of the purchase price.
QWhat if I do not have enough acquisition capital?⌄
There are financing options that work even for small acquisitions — startup loans from the Japan Finance Corporation, or bank lending for succession and M&A. Talk to an adviser or bank early about how to combine your own funds with borrowing.
QHow does this compare with starting from scratch?⌄
You begin with revenue, customers and equipment already in place, cutting the launch period and the risk of building an audience from zero. You do, however, need to check why the previous owner struggled and confirm the handover terms — success hinges on being able to keep the business running, not just on closing the deal.

Related Industries

Related industries

🍽️Restaurants & Hotels M&A→💆Lifestyle & Leisure M&A→💻IT & Software M&A→
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Small M&A M&A & business succession consultation

MANDA-certified advisors with deep industry knowledge help you find the best match, including off-market deals. Consultations are free — as many as you need.

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