HELP CENTRE
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about buying, selling and listing a food business with RestaurantsForSale.uk.
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FOR BUYERS
Buying a food business
Buying gives you working trade, equipment and customers from day one, usually at lower risk. Starting from scratch offers full creative freedom but takes longer and carries higher early-stage risk.
It varies widely by location, size and type — from modest takeaways to high-end city sites. Budget beyond the asking price for legal fees, stock, deposits and a few months’ working capital.
Verified accounts, the lease terms, licences, equipment condition, staff contracts and any debts. Do this with a solicitor and accountant — see our Buyer’s Guide for the full checklist.
Strongly recommended. Due diligence is detailed work and professional advice usually costs far less than the problems it prevents.
Most buyers combine sources: bank/commercial loans, seller financing, or investors. Having funding lined up makes you a more credible buyer.
FOR SELLERS
Selling your business
Ideally 6–24 months ahead, so you can tidy the accounts, sort the lease and time the sale when your figures look strongest.
Once a buyer’s found, most sales complete in roughly 8–12 weeks, depending on the lease, landlord consent and document turnaround.
Yes. Many owners keep the sale discreet to protect staff and trade — for example by hiding the exact location until a buyer enquires seriously.
Both work. A broker brings reach and handles negotiation for a fee; a marketplace listing keeps costs down and connects you directly with buyers. Many do both.
Under TUPE rules, employees generally transfer to the new owner on existing terms. Be upfront with buyers and plan the handover.
LISTING & PRICING
Valuing and listing with us
Use a blend of profit multiples, turnover multiples and assets-plus-goodwill. Try our estimator on the Business Valuation page for a rough range, then confirm with a professional.
Create a listing from the ‘List Your Business’ button, add your details, photos and figures, and choose a plan on the pricing page.
Clear photos and specific financial figures (asking price, rent, turnover) consistently attract the most enquiries. Vague listings underperform.
See our Pricing page for current plans.
[Phil to confirm based on plan terms.]
ABOUT US
About RestaurantsForSale.uk
A UK marketplace dedicated to food businesses — restaurants, bars, pubs, cafés and takeaways — backed by an active Facebook buyer-and-seller community.
We’re specialist, not general, and our listings reach a genuine community of food-business buyers through our Facebook group — not just anonymous search traffic.
[Phil to confirm.] Browsing listings is free.
Use our Contact page and we’ll get back to you.
Join the UK's food-business community
Buying or selling, you’re in good company. Our Facebook group connects thousands of restaurant buyers and sellers across the UK.
Thousands
of buyers & sellers
UK-wide
food businesses
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