Business Exits By Industry

Selling a Caribbean Restaurant

Market shifts affect business values and the Caribbean restaurant industry has seen more than its share of fluctuations in business values. Here's what you'll need to know to sell a Caribbean restaurant during challenging economic times.

Business sellers are notorious for second-guessing themselves about the right time to put their companies up for sale.

Nothing lasts forever and you will ultimately be faced with the task of selling your company. When that happens, your future plans will be dependent on your ability to receive the highest possible sale price for your Caribbean restaurant.

Timing the Market

Now may be the best time to sell a Caribbean restaurant. A depressed economy means lower interest rates; lower interest rates increase the number of investors willing to take a chance on Caribbean restaurants. As the interest rates rise, it will be more difficult for buyers to make the numbers work in their favor. So we see market timing as a concern that can be easily mitigated by applying fundamental sales strategies and adequately preparing your company for buyers.

Seller Concessions

Seller concessions are becoming more commonplace in business-for-sale transactions. By far, seller financing is the most sought-after concession, especially in the current economic environment. With entrepreneurs struggling to secure capital, you may be the buyer's only source of financing. As an alternative, clearly state that seller financing is not an option and consider offering other concessions to see the sale through to its completion.

Sale Costs

In a Caribbean restaurant sale, pricing is based on a number of factors, including the costs incurred during the sale. Good brokerage takes a 10% success fee off the top of the final sale price. Professional consultations can also represent a significant expense during the course of a Caribbean restaurant sale. Furthermore, your time has value, so you may need to include a personal compensation consideration in your expense estimates.

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