Sell · 7 min read
How to prepare to sell a café in Brisbane
A practical Brisbane café sale-readiness checklist covering records, lease questions, staff, equipment and customer demand.
Selling a café involves more than choosing an asking price. A prospective buyer needs to understand the earnings, premises, team, equipment, customer demand and day-to-day operation. Preparing those details early can make the opportunity easier to assess and the handover easier to plan.
Organise the trading evidence
Bring the bookkeeping up to date and make sure the sales story can be followed across the point-of-sale system, bank records, tax records and management accounts. Explain seasonality, delivery-platform income, catering, events and any material change in opening hours.
- Monthly sales, gross margin and wage costs
- Owner wages, personal expenses and genuine one-off items
- Coffee, food and other product mix
- Customer counts, average transaction value and busy periods
Review the lease and location
The remaining lease term, options, rent reviews, permitted use and landlord approval process may affect how a buyer sees the opportunity. Foot traffic, nearby development, parking, public transport and local competition also deserve a clear, evidence-based explanation.
Document staff, systems and equipment
Record who runs each shift, which skills are difficult to replace and how dependent the café is on the owner. Prepare an equipment list with ownership, condition, service history and any finance attached. Document ordering, recipes, food-safety routines and opening or closing procedures.
Build a realistic handover plan
Think through training, supplier introductions, staff communication and the transfer of digital accounts. Keep customer and employee privacy in mind and obtain professional advice before sharing confidential records or making commitments.
BizEX can help you organise an initial sale-readiness conversation. Any value range is indicative only and should be checked against appropriate accounting, legal and market evidence.
General information only. Consider obtaining advice suited to your circumstances before making a business, legal, tax or financial decision.