Buy and Sell with Care
RestaurantsForSale.uk helps buyers, sellers and brokers connect, but every business purchase requires careful independent checks. Use the guidance below before sharing confidential information, making a payment, or signing an agreement.
For buyers
- Confirm who owns the business and who is authorised to sell it.
- Visit the premises and verify that the opportunity matches the listing.
- Ask an accountant to review trading figures, tax records and liabilities.
- Ask a solicitor to review the sale agreement, lease, licences and staff obligations.
- Confirm planning, food registration and alcohol-licensing requirements where relevant.
- Never pay a deposit solely to secure a viewing, or because someone creates artificial urgency.
- Use independently verified contact and bank details before sending money.
For sellers
- Keep accounts, identity documents and commercially sensitive records out of the public listing.
- Share detailed financial information only when appropriate and through a secure method.
- Verify a buyer’s identity and ability to proceed before disclosing highly confidential information.
- Use a solicitor for heads of terms, deposits, lease assignments and completion funds.
- Tell us promptly about suspicious or abusive enquiries.
What we do
We review listings for marketplace relevance and may investigate reports, but we do not verify every financial or legal claim and we do not hold completion funds. A published listing is not an endorsement or a guarantee.
Report a concern
If you believe a listing or enquiry may be fraudulent, misleading or unauthorised, contact [email protected] and include the listing URL and a clear description of the concern. Do not include unnecessary identity or banking documents.