Ideally your business needs to fit your own skills, lifestyle and aspirations. Before you start looking, think about what you can bring to a business and what you'd like to get back.

List what is important to you. It is useful to consider:

• Your expectations in terms of earning - what level of profit do you need to be looking for to accommodate your needs?

• Your commitment - are you prepared for all the hard work and money that you will need to put into the business to get it to succeed?

• Your strengths - what kind of business opportunity will give you the chance to put your skills and experience to good use?

• The type of business - limited company, partnership etc - that you're interested in buying.

• The business sector you're interested in - learn as much as you can about your chosen industry so you can compare different businesses. It's important to take the time to talk to people already in similar businesses.

• Location - don't restrict your search to your local area. Some businesses can be easily relocated.