Business Exits By Industry
Selling a Café
Most businesses are susceptible to economic conditions and caf�s are no exception. But in some cases, a down economy can actually improve saleability. All it takes is a strategy to identify solid prospects and convert them to buyers.
The caf�-for-sale marketplace is a nuanced environment, full of pitfalls for sellers who aren't prepared for its demands.
But at Gaebler, we see caf�s still selling at a brisk pace. Like always, unprofitable and poorly positioned businesses struggle to find buyers while sellers who have invested time and effort to prepare their sale are being rewarded in the marketplace.
Emotional Considerations
Prepare yourself to feel a broad range of emotions when you sell a caf�. From hopefulness to remorse, it's all part of exiting of your company. The emotions of a sale are complicated by the fact that it may take time to locate the right buyer and the final sale price may be less than you think your caf� is worth. Although it isn't easy, you can mitigate the emotional impact of a caf� sale by setting realistic expectations before you list your business.
Business Assets
Buyers typically perform an independent appraisal of your caf�'s physical assets. Most sellers, however, conduct a pre-sale appraisal to gain an accurate gauge of asset value prior to negotiations. A professional appraisal is a necessity because it gives you the information you need to negotiate a sale price. A pre-listing appraisal also gives you the opportunity to document the condition of your caf�'s assets and possible even make repairs or upgrades to increase the total value of the operation.
Tapping Into Business Networks
Today's caf� buyers can be found in a variety of locations. To advertise your sale to the widest possible audience, consider a listing on BizBuySell.com or other top online business-for-sale listing sites. More focused prospects are typically found within industry networks. When leveraging industry relationships for sales prospects, you'll need to be cognizant of the potential for competitors to use knowledge of your sale against you in the marketplace. Use good sense in restricting the flow of information within the industry and focusing your efforts toward trusted industry allies.
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