Business for sale websites

here2surf

I have been looking out for a going concern for the last while. There seems to be very little up on Irish websites compared to say UK ones.
Besides myhome donedeal businessforsale are there any suggestions for good websites selling the likes of convenience stores etc.
Thanks.

hardCopy

here2surf wrote: »

I have been looking out for a going concern for the last while. There seems to be very little up on Irish websites compared to say UK ones.
Besides myhome donedeal businessforsale are there any suggestions for good websites selling the likes of convenience stores etc.
Thanks.

I don't know of any sites but it might be worth contacting some of the symbol groups to see if they can point you to a member looking to sell up

pm1979

+1 on this thread op the quality on done deal etc it seems to be scams and no decent businesses

janullrich

I wish I knew of a decent site I could look at as well. I would love to buy a coffee shop/bistro as a going concern from a owner who just wants to up sticks or something. Instead I am meeting with nutters telling me about their research, business plans etc and not going fwd with it or property agents who will just fob me off. It is so damn hard to set up any business in this country due to the bureacracy involved.

nino1

there is no way you will ever find a decent business for sale on donedeal!!

The best business' won't need to even advertise that its for sale and its generally people already in the business that already own a smiliar store that will hear about it first and but it before it is even advertised.

There are generally specialists companies that deal with selling business' for each sector. You need to find these and forget about donedeal etc!

The Apprentice

I think nino1 that was his question..


Who are these specialist companies..

here2surf

Yes Apprentice, that is the info i am after.

I agree that most deals seem to be done off market but surely if someone is selling up they would want it pitched to as wide a market as possible.
The inside back page of SBP sometimes has going concerns but rarely any retail ones.

I read on Boards previously that all the fanchise groups buy back or allow current franchisees first refusal on performing sites and any others aint worth looking at.

sandin

janullrich wrote: »

It is so damn hard to set up any business in this country due to the bureacracy involved.

?????

Ireland is one of the easiest countries in the world to set up a business and the amount of bureacracy involved is minimal except in the food industry where your customers health and well being takes precedence.


What you seem to be looking for is a business that is already established and not willing to do the hard work of setting it up. - These will always be offered to insiders first.

Location is everything - get the right location, agree the rental terms, then approach the symbols and see who offers the best deal.

Keep looking in the commercial property sections of Daft & Myhome - up to recently there was a prime unit in Newbridge (ex centra) on the market, but it was taken by a Daybreak operator (was on market for 6+months) Brilliant location esp if rent was reasonable.

janullrich

Sandin, If it is so easier, why when you ring a agent who has the property they are not going to necogiate regarding terms of the deal ie rent free period where a area is a shell unit or needs work to it ie Java Junction in Malahide, why when a property is to let on a site (whether it is established or not) and the sign is still there does the property agent apologise but the place is let but he/she forgot to take the sign down. 3 weeks later it is still there. It has nothing to do with food hygiene which is a completely separate matter.

Look at my threads. I advised that I would love to get a going concern but have also approached several agents re "shell units" in Spencer Dock or Georges Street and being fobbed off. Therefore there is nothing mentioned that I am not prepared to put in hard work. Of course I am or I would going for it. You don't know of where I worked before so don't judge.

You mention a unit going in Newbridge and I notice you are from Kildare. That suits you down to the ground. I live in North Dublin so that certainly does not suit me.

JD Dublin

janullrich wrote: »

Sandin, If it is so easier, why when you ring a agent who has the property they are not going to necogiate regarding terms of the deal ie rent free period where a area is a shell unit or needs work to it ie Java Junction in Malahide, why when a property is to let on a site (whether it is established or not) and the sign is still there does the property agent apologise but the place is let but he/she forgot to take the sign down. 3 weeks later it is still there. It has nothing to do with food hygiene which is a completely separate matter.

Look at my threads. I advised that I would love to get a going concern but have also approached several agents re "shell units" in Spencer Dock or Georges Street and being fobbed off. Therefore there is nothing mentioned that I am not prepared to put in hard work. Of course I am or I would going for it. You don't know of where I worked before so don't judge.

You mention a unit going in Newbridge and I notice you are from Kildare. That suits you down to the ground. I live in North Dublin so that certainly does not suit me.

There are loads of coffee shops for sale through Owens Commercial, I must be on their list as I get regular emails. They tend to deal with established businesses ( rather than shell schemes ). Whats your budget to buy a shop? That may limit where you can look and what businesses you can buy.

here2surf

:eek:Owens currently has "loads" of coffee shops????
They have three, two are reserved and the other is sold.
And this is the best or only option available on line to serious entrepreneurs and investors in Ireland!
If so, I rest my case.

JD Dublin wrote: »

There are loads of coffee shops for sale through Owens Commercial, I must be on their list as I get regular emails. They tend to deal with established businesses ( rather than shell schemes ). Whats your budget to buy a shop? That may limit where you can look and what businesses you can buy.

JD Dublin

here2surf wrote: »

:eek:Owens currently has "loads" of coffee shops????
They have three, two are reserved and the other is sold.
And this is the best or only option available on line to serious entrepreneurs and investors in Ireland!
If so, I rest my case.

Did you phone any of the estate agents, maybe they don't have all the properties listed just now? Maybe some owners are selling discreetly and don't want to be listed?

I have dealt with this particular agent ( Owens ) and many others and they are generally helpful and realistic, bearing in mind they are acting for 'the opposition', as helpful as they can be.

One person I acted for bought 3 convenience stores from Owens' clients. He's not Santa Claus though, so be prepared to part with money.

Another agent who seemed to specialise in commercial is Harveys, but they are more or less purely warehouses / industrial units so they may not have many going concerns.

here2surf

JD Dublin wrote: »

Did you phone any of the estate agents, maybe they don't have all the properties listed just now? Maybe some owners are selling discreetly and don't want to be listed?

I have dealt with this particular agent ( Owens ) and many others and they are generally helpful and realistic, bearing in mind they are acting for 'the opposition', as helpful as they can be.

One person I acted for bought 3 convenience stores from Owens' clients. He's not Santa Claus though, so be prepared to part with money.

Another agent who seemed to specialise in commercial is Harveys, but they are more or less purely warehouses / industrial units so they may not have many going concerns.

Thanks for the info but it's slightly off topic. My original query was re the lack of websites.

JD Dublin

Your first sentence from your first post:
''I have been looking out for a going concern for the last while.''
You have got some good advice here, not just from me but other posters too. You are right, the details are not just there on websites. I am making the point that you need to dig around to get the information you need.

janullrich

Thanks JD. That was helpful and I appreciate it. I never really thought to ring Owens but as Philip Owens said to me, you need to register your details with them and they will pass on the necessary information of going concerns who are on the website or of those who are not for one reason or another. A email is automatically passed on then to myself when they have the info. He advised that they come in all the time and was friendly and helpful (makes a change compared to some of the "yokes" I have had to deal with). I will check of any such other agents are around and if anyone else knows of sites like Owens or agents who have properties available please send me a PM or continue this thread. cheers

jobhunter50

http://www.thebusinessshop.ie/

http://www.businessesforsale.ie/

http://www.irishbusinesssales.com/businesses.htm

Also the back of the Sunday Business Post always carries a number of businesses for sale or why not advertise yourself with your requirements in the usual places - Irish Independent, online etc.

Good luck!

janullrich

Thanks for the info. Met Phillip Owens btw at the start of last week. Wow! He may be friendly on the phone but he certainly isn't when you meet him. He basically told me get a job and stop wasting his time. He advised that he wants to see all my financial info before we do business and started giving me a interview of all my business involvments until I said I was not interested in getting into this at this point. He promised to send on info but didn't. Avoid is all I say!

JD Dublin

janullrich wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Met Phillip Owens btw at the start of last week. Wow! He may be friendly on the phone but he certainly isn't when you meet him. He basically told me get a job and stop wasting his time. He advised that he wants to see all my financial info before we do business and started giving me a interview of all my business involvments until I said I was not interested in getting into this at this point. He promised to send on info but didn't. Avoid is all I say!

Eh..... he's here to do a job - get money from you for a shop unit, not act as your agent, or business adviser.

You look at what he has, you make an offer if you are interested. Like I said he's not Santa Claus.

I would look at your own situation if I was you, all agents are like Phillip Owens - hard-nosed and commercial. At least he is effecient, and met with you.

Seriously, if you went to a car showroom and the seller didnt ask you how you are going to pay for this car - you'd be dubious - wouldn't you? That is why he is asking for financial details from you.

Once again, I'd seriously look at your motivation in taking on a shop if you couldnt take on some of the units that Owens Commercial have. If you don't have the funds for a deposit, or cannot show how you are going to pay ongoing rent, why would anyone rent to you?

BenEadir

janullrich wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Met Phillip Owens btw at the start of last week. Wow! He may be friendly on the phone but he certainly isn't when you meet him. He basically told me get a job and stop wasting his time. He advised that he wants to see all my financial info before we do business and started giving me a interview of all my business involvments until I said I was not interested in getting into this at this point. He promised to send on info but didn't. Avoid is all I say!

JD above is spot on. Philip Owens is there (1) to represent his client and (2) use his time efficiently. 80% of people enquiring about businesses for sale are timewasters/dreamers. An experienced guy like Philip will quickly establish whether the person he's dealing with falls into that category by sussing out whether they have any experience or a credible plan and whether they have the funds to close a deal. If they don't they're not in a position to buy his clients business and he needs to stop wasting his time with them.

Don't take it too hard Jan, you are just on a steep learning curve. The key is to understand the process (and questions you are going to be asked etc) and BE PREPARED!!

Ben

janullrich

I have sorted myself out a lease. Thankfully it is not through Phillip Owens or someone like that. Not all estate agents are like him. There are decent ones out there who don't need to know what you had for breakfast or when the last time you went for a s**t. I did not give my CV through, I explained what I did previously and where I could go forward. I paid the deposit and in the next few weeks will pay the rest of the keymoney. Afterwards it is up to myself. Maybe JD you found Phillip Owens helpful and realistic but I found him the opposite to be honest. Good luck to you if you did but I am just advising you of my experience. His website is the same tired website as it was a month ago though he advised me when I rung him over a month ago that he has premises changing every few weeks. This is why I did not take on any of his units because there ain't any new ones available!!!!

JD Dublin

Glad to hear you got a start, Jan. You are right there are good agent out there, and some that will give you a chance too. I hope it works out for you, best of luck in your future endeavours.

EamonOSullivan

JD Dublin wrote: »

Glad to hear you got a start, Jan. You are right there are good agent out there, and some that will give you a chance too. I hope it works out for you, best of luck in your future endeavours.

Why not keep us up to date on your project by checking in here from time to time? For every person who posts, there are dozens who are are on the sidelines, and who might be able to make a contribution to your sucess.

janullrich

Thanks. I will do! However it will take a number of weeks to get all the legal stuff/fit out etc sorted out before I start trading.