where to advertise to sell a business?

[Amazin]

apart from this one:

http://uk.businessesforsale.com/

It has lot of businesses on there I don't like the way how it operates. You have to pay to receive messages. Can someone please recommand me an alternative site?

I'm trying to sell my mum's takeaway business (leasehold) in Clacton on sea.

-Thanks

 

[Merchant UK]

Sometimes if your serious about selling a business you do need to pay to sell it, it sorts out the Timewasters from the serious sellers, I'm sure if you paid a few quid and got yourself a buyer it wouldn't be such a bad thing

 

[beasty]

Would you expect this service for free?

 

[10032012]

There is always ebay lol, cheap exposure but be prepared for the time wasters. its also not targeted so you may not get any interest at all.

To answer your question, I don't think there are any free listing sites to sell businesses.

 

[Merchant UK]

Plus it don't show the business in good light if your trying to sell on a freebie website

 

[Amazin]

thanks for the response, MK. I agree that sometimes you have to pay to get what you want. I'm bit surprised that sites like ebay, gumtree don't sell businesses

 

[KeithP]

Have you tried a local commercial property agent? In my limited experience of using some of the national business transfer agents, you don't get the level of service (or indeed a buyer) but a local company would give you better advice and would have access to a database of local buyers.

 

[Socio South West]

The best sites to sell a business are the same sites as you would use to buy a business.... Thought we'd been here before....

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/t...i-want-to-buy-a-business.296170/#post-2242496

 

[Merchant UK]

thanks for the response, MK. I agree that sometimes you have to pay to get what you want. I'm bit surprised that sites like ebay, gumtree don't sell businesses

Ebay do sell businesses http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Other-Bus...r+sale&_dcat=2992&Sub%2DType=Restaurant&rt=nc

But like everything else you need to pay at the end, personal experience with free sites is you get very little good responses and a lot of time wasters whereas sites that you need to pay you will get serious investors and business people

 

[GeorgeM]

"I'm bit surprised that sites like ebay, gumtree don't sell businesses"

Well you can certainly sell businesses on eBay, as others have said. You could also market it through a local business transfer agent for your area.

 

[Talay]

When I look at businesses for sale I want to see the last 3 years accounts plus cashflow since last accounts backed up where necessary by bank statements showing deposits and corporation tax paid etc.

Out of perhaps 50 businesses I've expressed a detailed interest in over the years, 9 out of 10 are dismissed because they are simply lying when pushed to back trading statements with supporting evidence.

Most of these are with agents who fabricate numbers out of thin air. Once that is done, your business has zero credibility.

Hence, I advise total avoidance of all the spivs and conmen who will happily force you into a contract which is designed to deliver them a commission long after you think their involvement has ceased.

A local sale of a local business is quite possible without resorting to national or online advertising and a decent local commercial agent may well know potential purchasers already.

 

[10032012]

Talay, an interesting one and so true.

You really get some jokers out there.The last time I was looking at businesses to buy... One I remember was a "long established business" that turned out to be going for around 18 months. That is a low first year turnover and part year trading with a very optimistic projection, which meant the business was showing significant signs of "year-on-year growth" - namely because the first year was under-subscribed intentionally so the second year showed big turnover increase in comparison... although the year was far from over - was at around the first year turnover point.

Anyway, the bottom line was it was a del boy like chap who sets up a few part time businesses or acquires them early on from start-ups failing to try and push them as successful trading businesses. I really do not know how anyone could fall for the scam. The one in particular had a significant tax liability too which I suppose was the intention of a "quick sale".

Back on to the subject... the problem is 99% of business sales are now "retirement" or "ill health" on businessesforsale.com and like that elsewhere. You need to advertise where the people are. businessesforsale.com is one of the main websites out there for it and people are mainly serious! ebay can get you views and interest but rarely will convert. Gumtree is the craigslist in the UK - its popular with people selling second hand items and the property and job sections are getting more popular... but I don't think anyone with serious cash or business acumen would ever search gumtree to buy a business.

Have you ever tried directly contacting your competitors about the sale?

 

[IANL]

There are a number of business transfer agents that just want you to list with them for a fee. They will overvalue your business. Businesses for Sale has a great reputation - I have bought a business using this site to locate it.

When selling a business you should ensure you get some advice as to it's value.

You could also try Daltons http://www.daltonsbusiness.com They are the oldest I think. They used to have a weekly publication.

Might be worth contacting Franklin Commercial, www.shopsetc.com , although based in Esher, Surrey they may know of someone local like themselves.

 

[uksme]

Hi Amazin, we'd be delighted to help you. The Daltons brand has indeed been in operation for almost 150 years, and DaltonsBusiness.com is the UK's largest business for sale marketplace. We generate thousands of enquiries from business buyers every week.

We do charge an up-front advertising fee, and our pricing and benefits are all made clear on our "sell a business" page- alternatively you can give us a call and we'd be happy to talk through what we can do for you.