Nov. 8--Most people hunting for a business to buy eventually give up. And most businesses for sale never do find a buyer.

The reason, said John Halstverdt, is frustration "due to poor communication between buyers and sellers, errors of omission and a lack of education and preparation."

Halstverdt is a something like a marriage broker, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them work through all the research and options and paperwork.

"I have always enjoyed the educational side of the business and wanted to spend more time working with people to succeed at finding and improving small to midsized businesses," said Halstverdt, who owns and runs the regional office of "Partner" On-Call Network at 3860 Avenue B, Suite C West, in Billings.

And, he's practiced what he preaches by buying, improving and selling several small businesses. Halstverdt can be reached at 294-3860 or through his Web site, www.partneroncall.com/johnhalstvedt. Here's what else he had to say about building a business by building businesses:

Nature of the business:

I am a partner in a national business consulting firm called "Partner" On-Call Network. Our system was started in 1974 to help clients buy, start, improve, finance, value and sell businesses. We work as a "Business Buyer Advocate" to help individuals or companies find mature, profitable businesses that are usually not on the market for sale. We then assist with due diligence, financing, valuation and deal making.

We also work with existing businesses to grow through acquisition, maximize profits, develop business plans, arrange financing and prepare their business for a future sale. Our business is making our clients' business more valuable.

Why start this business?

I had gradually been changing from selling businesses as a broker to working as a consultant.

Where did startup funding come from?

Personal funds.

How long have you been in business?

I have been a small-business owner since 1977 and started selling businesses in 1987. By having real-life experience at business ownership, I can better relate to my clients as they are trying to buy or improve a business.

Your biggest challenge during the current recession?

Getting business owners to understand that they will come out of the recession so much stronger if they invest in good decisions now. Business owners and potential business owners often know a lot, but they "don't know what they don't know." We don't know everything either, but we are constantly reaching out to other professional advisers to find the information.