Restaurants for Sale in Vancouver: What to Know Before You Buy (2026)

Buying a restaurant in Vancouver can be a fast route to owning a cash-flowing business, but restaurants also fail more often than most small businesses. The difference between a good buy and an expensive mistake almost always comes down to due diligence before you sign. Here is what to check.

How to evaluate a restaurant’s true profitability

Sellers quote “sales” and a rosy profit number; you need the real owner’s cash flow (often called Seller’s Discretionary Earnings). Start from the financial statements and tax filings, then verify against POS reports and bank deposits — not just a spreadsheet the seller hands you.

• Verify the revenue. Match claimed sales to merchant/POS statements and bank deposits for the last 12–24 months.
• Watch the key ratios. Food cost typically runs 28–35% of sales, labour 25–35%, and rent should ideally stay under ~8–10% of sales. Rent well above that is the most common reason Vancouver restaurants struggle.
• Normalize add-backs. One-time and owner-personal expenses can legitimately be added back, but be skeptical of large or vague add-backs that inflate the earnings.

What does a restaurant sale include in BC?

Most restaurant sales in BC are asset sales (you buy the business assets, not the corporation). A typical deal includes the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), leasehold improvements, the assignment of the premises lease, transferable permits, inventory, and goodwill. Two items make or break the deal:

• The lease. The remaining term, renewal options, and rent escalations transfer with the business — and the landlord must usually consent to the assignment. A short remaining term with no renewal is a major risk.
• The liquor licence. A liquor primary or food primary licence does not transfer automatically; it requires approval from the LCRB (and often local-government sign-off), which takes time. Make the sale conditional on the licence transfer.

Confirm what is owned outright versus leased (some kitchen equipment, POS systems, and signage are on separate leases that do not transfer with the FF&E).

Top questions to ask when buying a Vancouver restaurant

• Why are you selling, and how long have you owned it?
• What is the remaining lease term, renewal option, and scheduled rent increase?
• Can I see POS and bank records to verify the stated sales?
• Is the liquor licence transferable, and what type is it?
• How old is the equipment, and what is owned versus leased?
• Will key staff stay through the transition, and is there a training period?
• Are there any outstanding health-inspection, fire, or permit issues?

Browse current restaurants and cafes for sale across Greater Vancouver, or get in touch for help running the numbers on a specific listing before you make an offer.