Able Auctions

What Able Auctions does

Able Auctions, operating as Able Solutions Inc., is a British Columbia-based multi-channel auctioneer that combines in-person live auction events with a proprietary online bidding platform (bid.ableauctions.ca) powered by Live Auction Group. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Langley, BC, the company operates three physical locations across the Lower Mainland (North Langley, South Langley, and Surrey) and maintains a contact point in Nanaimo, with category coverage spanning antiques and collectables, estate jewelry, consumer goods, commercial and office equipment, industrial equipment, vehicles, restaurant equipment, and police-recovered items. The platform supports simultaneous floor and online bidding with a maximum/absentee bid system and SMS/email lot closing notifications.

The company's revenue model is transaction-based: a 20% buyer's premium is applied to winning bids, with 5% GST and 7% PST collected on BC purchases. Able Auctions pursues a sales-led go-to-market motion requiring bidders to register and be approved before participating, while encouraging in-person previews for condition assessment and recommending third-party logistics partners for buyer pickup and transport of heavy items. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across business liquidators handling closures and surplus inventory, individual buyers and sellers of personal property and collectibles, and government or institutional clients disposing of recovered or seized assets.

The business is privately held with 1-10 employees, no disclosed funding history, no parent company, and no public listing. Strategic positioning leans on physical distribution density within BC, brand recognition in the regional auction market, and category breadth rather than technology differentiation, as core bidding infrastructure relies on the third-party Live Auction Group platform.

Name

Able Auctions

Legal name

Able Solutions Inc.

Website

https://ableauctions.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Able Auctions is a British Columbia-based multi-channel auctioneer combining in-person and online bidding across industrial, commercial, jewelry, and consumer goods, serving business liquidators, individual buyers/sellers, and government clients. It earns revenue through a 20% buyer's premium on winning bids.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Auction Services

NAICS

Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4238), Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers (42394), Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423840)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)

akta.pro primary industry

Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry) (CRAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Online auction services
• Asset liquidation
• Industrial equipment auctions
• Estate jewelry auctions
• Business liquidation auctions

Headquarters

HQ city

Langley

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Buyer's Premium: A 20% buyer's premium is added to the final bid price on all auction purchases, serving as the primary revenue stream. Additional taxes (5% GST and 7% PST in British Columbia) are collected on top of the winning bid plus premium.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Able Auctions operates an integrated online and in-person auction platform that liquidates commercial, industrial, and consumer assets on behalf of businesses, estates, and government institutions. Its core service includes cataloging, marketing, previewing, live bidding (online and floor), payment processing, and pickup coordination across multiple British Columbia locations, with a 20% buyer's premium applied to every winning bid.

Product overview

Able Auctions operates a multi-channel auction platform combining in-person live events with real-time online bidding. The core offering consists of an integrated auction platform that enables simultaneous floor and web-based participation, supported by auction management software for cataloging, bid tracking, and payment processing. The company specializes in liquidating commercial, industrial, and consumer assets across diverse categories including heavy equipment, vehicles, jewelry, office furniture, and retail merchandise. Their services encompass auctioneering, asset liquidation, and appraisal, with operations spanning multiple British Columbia locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Able Auctions Online Auction Platform Online auction platform enabling real-time web-based bidding for live and timed auctions across commercial, industrial, and consumer goods categories, accessible at bid.ableauctions.ca.
• In-Person Live Auction Events Traditional on-site auction events held at Able Auctions' British Columbia locations with simultaneous online bidding, in-person preview periods, and floor attendance.
• Consumer Goods Auctions Auction events featuring ebikes, electric scooters, fitness equipment, appliances, and other consumer merchandise targeted at individual buyers.
• Industrial Equipment Auctions Auctions of heavy machinery, forklifts, vehicles, construction equipment, and manufacturing plant assets for business liquidators.
• Estate Jewelry Auctions Specialized auctions featuring fine jewelry, precious and semi-precious stones, diamonds, gold pieces, coins, and collectibles.
• Commercial and Office Equipment Auctions Auctions of office furniture, IT equipment, computers, monitors, and commercial furnishings from closing businesses.
• Vehicle Auctions Auctions featuring automobiles, trucks, trailers, and other motorized vehicles including luxury and commercial options.
• Police Recovered and Unclaimed Freight Auctions Auctions of recovered, unclaimed, and estate items including electronics, tools, jewelry, clothing, and household goods sourced from law enforcement and institutional consignors.
• Restaurant Equipment Auctions Auctions of restaurant-grade appliances, kitchen equipment, and foodservice assets from closing hospitality businesses.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Shipping BoxminorOthersRecommended shipping partner for out-of-town buyers needing packing and shipping services. Contact: 604-807-0884 or [email protected]
• Judge TruckingminorOthersRecommended for Hiab, crane, or flat tilt deck transport services for heavy items. Contact: 604-715-0004
• CranexminorOthersRecommended crane and heavy equipment transport service. Contact: 604-621-4090
• Double Time TransportminorOthersRecommended tilt deck transport service. Contact: 604-366-6396
• Prime Crane Services LtdminorOthersRecommended crane services for heavy item removal. Contact: 778-556-1214
• Canada's Most Wanted MoversminorOthersRecommended moving company for auction item pickup. Contact: 778-791-7391 or [email protected]
• Comox PacificminorOthersRecommended for island deliveries (Vancouver Island). Contact: 250-754-7773
• Live Auction GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware platform provider powering the online auction bidding system at bid.ableauctions.ca

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• LiveAuctioneers: Major online auction aggregator for estate, antique, jewelry, and fine art auctions. Directly competes for buyers in Able's estate jewelry and antiques categories through a national/international platform.
• Bid4Assets: Online auction platform specializing in government-seized and distressed asset sales. Overlaps with Able Auctions' police recovery and government/institutional segment through similar asset categories and buyer profiles.
• HiBid: Online auction platform serving auctioneers and consignors across general merchandise, real estate, and equipment categories. Closely comparable to the Live Auction Group platform that powers Able Auctions' bidding infrastructure.
• Auction Network (a TACN company): Canadian-focused online auction broadcast service and platform provider. Similar role to Live Auction Group in supporting regional auctioneers like Able Auctions with online bidding infrastructure.

Regional players

• McDougall Auctioneers: Western Canadian auction house operating across Alberta and BC with general merchandise, equipment, and estate auctions. Comparable regional competitor with similar auction category mix and operating geography to Able Auctions.

Broad incumbents

• Copart: Major online vehicle auction platform operating across North America. Overlaps with Able Auctions' vehicle auction category and offers a directly comparable online bidding model with much larger buyer reach.
• Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers: Global leader in industrial and heavy equipment auctions, also headquartered in British Columbia. Directly competes in the industrial equipment auction category Able Auctions serves, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Heritage Auctions: Large US-based auction house covering collectibles, jewelry, coins, and general merchandise. Overlaps with Able's jewelry and collectibles auction categories and offers similar online + in-person preview hybrid model.
• IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions): Large North American vehicle auction house specializing in salvage and insurance-totaled vehicles. Competes with Able Auctions in the vehicle auction space with a national footprint and institutional insurance-carrier relationships.

Emerging players

• BidX1: Online auction platform focused on property and asset auctions. Represents the broader digital-auction trend that puts pressure on regional auction houses like Able by enabling online-only competitive models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AbleAuctions
• Facebookfacebook.com/AbleAuctions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Able Auctions