Coldwell Banker La Costa
Businesses for Sale in Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay
Turnkey restaurants, bars, boutique hotels, retail and wellness businesses across Puerto Vallarta, Bucerías, Sayulita, San Pancho and Punta de Mita.
Most opportunities on this page are sold as a traspaso, the local term for taking over an operating business on leased premises. You acquire the operation rather than the building: equipment, inventory, staff, brand, the permits that transfer, and the lease itself. A smaller number include the real estate. That distinction decides how the deal closes, how it is priced and where it can fail, so it is worth settling before you look at an asking price.
If the asset you want is the building rather than the operation, that inventory sits on commercial real estate for sale in Puerto Vallarta. Everything below covers the operating side.
What we broker
Coldwell Banker La Costa has worked this market since 1986, from three offices in Marina Vallarta, Zona Romántica and Sayulita, which is how we see opportunities before they reach a public listing.
What businesses cost here
The range is wider than most buyers expect. Recent listings on the bay have run from roughly 40,000 US dollars for a small established cafe to around 570,000 US dollars for a landmark restaurant sold together with its building. Most turnkey restaurants, bars, bakeries and salons sit between about 80,000 and 300,000 US dollars.
What moves a price inside that range is rarely the fit-out. It is documented earnings, the length and assignability of the lease, whether the alcohol or operating license transfers, and how much of the revenue walks out the door with the current owner. An asking price well below the rest of the market usually points at one of those four.
What we verify before you make an offer
Aspiration is easy in a resort market. Evidence is what protects the purchase. Every opportunity we present is reviewed against the same checklist, and we share what we find, including what we cannot confirm.
Where we work
Banderas Bay spans two states, and Jalisco and Nayarit each set their own rules on permits, taxes and closing. Our three offices cover both sides.
For the ownership and closing process generally, start with our guide to buying in Mexico.
Selling a business? Discretion first
A business loses value the moment staff, guests and suppliers hear it is for sale. We market seller side confidentially: a valuation built on your documented financials, a blind summary that describes the opportunity without identifying it, buyers qualified before any disclosure, and coordination with your accountant and notario público through to closing. Our reach includes a database of more than 24,000 contacts and the Coldwell Banker network across 40 countries, so a quiet listing still reaches serious buyers.
Common questions
Clear answers to what buyers ask first. For your specific situation, speak with our team and with a Mexican attorney and accountant before you commit.
Can a foreigner own a business in Mexico?
Yes. Foreign nationals commonly own businesses in Mexico through a Mexican corporation, most often an S.A. de C.V. or an S. de R.L. The company registers with the SAT, holds its own RFC, and can employ staff, sign leases and hold permits. Owners who will work in the business day to day generally need residency with permission to carry out lucrative activity. Confirm your structure with a Mexican attorney and accountant before signing.
What is a traspaso?
A traspaso is the local term for transferring an operating business that runs on leased premises. You acquire the going concern rather than the property: equipment, inventory, furnishings, recipes or systems, brand and social accounts, trained staff, and the lease, along with any permits that can be transferred. The landlord normally must approve the lease assignment, which is why lease terms decide whether a traspaso is worth its asking price.
How much does it cost to buy a business in Puerto Vallarta?
Recent listings on the bay have run from roughly 40,000 US dollars for a small established cafe to around 570,000 US dollars for a landmark restaurant sold with its building, with most turnkey restaurants, bars, bakeries and salons between about 80,000 and 300,000 US dollars. Price follows documented earnings, the lease, whether permits transfer, staff retention, and whether real estate is included.
What is the difference between buying a business and buying commercial property?
A business purchase transfers an operation, usually as a traspaso on leased premises, and its value lives in the earnings and the lease terms. A property purchase transfers title, closes before a notario público, and depends on uso de suelo, clean title and, for foreign buyers inside the restricted zone, a fideicomiso or a Mexican company taking direct title for non-residential use. Some opportunities are both. See the comparison table above, or browse commercial property.
What should I review before buying?
Financial statements and SAT filings for the last two to three years, the lease and whether it is assignable, the municipal operating license and any alcohol, health or tourism permits, the constancia de uso de suelo, employee records with accrued IMSS and severance obligations, supplier and franchise agreements, equipment ownership versus leasing, and any liens. Review revenue month by month rather than as an annual average.
How are businesses valued in this market?
Most owner operated businesses on the bay are valued on a multiple of seller discretionary earnings, adjusted for the quality of the books, lease term, transferability of permits, staff retention, and how much revenue depends on the current owner. Asset value, inventory and any included real estate are layered in. We price on documented numbers, not on what similar businesses are asking.
What taxes and ongoing obligations should I plan for?
An operating company files monthly and annual returns with the SAT, withholds and remits payroll contributions including IMSS and INFONAVIT, charges and remits IVA where applicable, and issues electronic invoices (CFDI). Lodging operations also collect the state lodging tax, ISH, which differs between Jalisco and Nayarit. Employees carry accrued seniority and severance rights that follow the business, so quantify those before agreeing on price.
Can you help me sell my business?
Yes. We represent sellers confidentially, with a valuation based on your documented financials, a blind listing summary, buyer qualification before disclosure, and coordination with your accountant and notario through closing.
Information on this page is general in nature and is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Business purchases in Mexico should be reviewed with a licensed Mexican attorney and accountant, and Jalisco and Nayarit maintain separate state regulations. Price ranges reflect recent listings and are not a valuation of any specific business. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Coldwell Banker La Costa Realty fully supports the principles of the Equal Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. ©2025 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.
