How To Sell My Cafe
Tips to maximise the value of your cafe business for saleSell My Cafe
So what makes your coffee shop sought after and what will make it sell for more than the average cafe business? These days, it comes down to the “vibe”. You can see two coffee shops side-by-side, one is doing all the business and the other one is empty. That can come down to the coffee, the food, the service or the “vibe”, or a combination of all. The “vibe” can come from the design and look of the cafe. It needs to be built to have a “look and feel” that meets the current needs of the cafe customer. After all, that is what is going to attract your customers first. The coffee and the food and the service come later.
Now let’s look at profitability. Also think about whether you would be better in a shopping centre or on Main Street and also whether you would be better served in a franchise business or non-franchise business. This article might help you in determining whether it should be franchise or non-franchise. Some of the points made in that article suggest that a non-franchise operator has more flexibility. The same may apply to the owner of a Main Street cafe who doesn’t have to abide by the rules and restrictions created by shopping centre owner.
Before you sell your cafe you need to set it up to be as profitable as possible. After profitability will come maintainability and transferability of income. The way to boost profits is set out below
Profitability
- Eliminate low margin items
- Retool your menu to focus on the most profitable products sold. These are usually coffee and drinks. They don’t take too much time to make and the ingredients are cheap
- Increase your Prices/ Margins to make more profit
- Introduce systems so that you can eliminate theft and waste
- Be careful about opening hours. Shorter hours of trade could make your business more valuable
- Host Events, even if it is breakeven. Every new person you get to your venue is a bonus
- Start Social Networking Accounts and grow following of your business. The social media trends change from time to time so make sure you change with them
- Know your costs and eliminate meals that have high cost items.
- Keep your regulars and look for new customers.
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What our customers say
Heidi Dening
Founder and MD, Jump Start
Bruce Sherlock
Founder and MD, Sherlock Consulting
Emily SALTER
Director - Fields of Beauty
Susanna Palmer
Director - PALMERBIZ
Bill Lockett
Director, Franchise Systems Grp
Time to Sell
When you have decided the time is right to sell your cafe, the process is a journey that can be made all the easier by:
- Assess your business through the eyes of a potential buyer. By changing your perspective you will be able to identify not only what needs to be physically improved, but also the strengths and weaknesses of the business. Ask yourself, “Would I buy this business”? Or why not?
- Capitalise on the cafes strengths to improve the appeal of the cafe.
- Develop a database of customers that you regularly communicate with about specials or what is happening at the cafe. Along with your social media, build a community.
- Formalise all systems and procedures re the day to day operations of the cafe. This is invaluable for the incoming owner as they only have to follow the formula.
- Proactively ensure that your lease has been negotiated on the best possible terms and has as long as possible to run.
- Presentation. A well presented cafe gives the impression of profitability, similarly, if the cafe is run down it gives potential buyers the impression that there is an underlying issue with profitability.
- Online presentation. A professional website can significantly increase sales.
- Know your brand and what it promises your customers. Your brand is encapsulated in your offering, service and your team delivery.
- Financials. Buyers expect to see a history of profitability. Well kept accountant figures are a must. Many owners of cash businesses have been known to “hide” income, making it difficult for a buyer to get finance. Also a buyer must find some way of verifying turnover other than through the official figures of the business.
- Keep up. Watch your competition and watch trends. You can have a successful cafe one minute and lose customers the next. You must change with the times. You can’t be refurbishing every month, I understand that. However you can innovate as far as your menu and activities around the Café are concerned.
- Engage a licenced Business Broker to handle the selling process
