Check sites specializing in commercial property listings LoopNet site offers photos, prices, square footage and even capitalization rates for a variety of property types throughout the country. Bizspace, run by the American City Business Journals chain, includes information on property in 16 markets throughout the country. Black's Guide started as a print guide to commercial property listings and now offers listings online.

I recommend:  On LoopNet, you'll be asked to register, and you can choose between a free basic service and more complete access for a fee. Bizspace offers a guide to brokers in addition to listings. Black's Guide requires free registration.

Hire a commercial real estate broker If you need nothing more than a simple warehouse bay, you probably can handle the search yourself. If your requirements are more complicated, use a commercial real estate broker.

I recommend:  Ask other entrepreneurs for names of good brokers. Your broker will have access to CoStar, which is considered the gold standard of commercial property listings services.

Surf broker sites Major commercial brokerages make it easy to search their listings, although you'll see only the properties they're trying to sell.

I recommend:  Big players include CB Richard Ellis, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Grubb & Ellis, Jones Lang LaSalle, Marcus & Millichap and NAI Global. All post their property listings online.

Look off the beaten path Auction sites, auctioneers and even Craigslist offer properties for sale.

I recommend:  Check eBay's commercial listings and surf Craigslist for your town. Also try old-line auctioneers such as Sheldon Good & Co.

Avoid infoglut with specialized searching Searching for general terms like 'real estate' or even 'commercial real estate' or 'commercial property listings' can return more results than you know what to do with.

I recommend:  Focus on exactly what you're looking for, whether it's retail property listings or real estate brokerage firms or commercial real estate loans.