Sell my Nightclub

I want to sell my nightclub business

Selling any self-built or owner-managed business is likely to mark a milestone for company directors, paving the path for future opportunities, or even retirement. You may have one or numerous reasons for selling your nightclub, from pursuing other business interests, exiting the industry, or releasing the efforts of your financial investment. The process to sell a nightclub will largely depend on the size of the business, the number of locations and the financial performance.

Appointing a business sale agent can help transfer the responsibility to industry leaders highly skilled in the trade of selling companies in the night entertainment industry. We have a database of over 10,000 actively searching buyers, including professionals in the hospitality sector.

By appointing a business transfer agent with proven experience in the sale of nightclubs, you can give your nightclub the best chance of securing a genuine buyer. After over 60 years in the industry, we understand trends and industry practices relating to maximising the sale value of nightclubs.

Selling my nightclub business

According to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the UK Night Time Industry accounts for nearly 8% of the UK’s employment and contributes £66 billion per annum towards the economy. Along with the hospitality sector, the Night Time Industry campaigns for the faster roll-out of 24-hour licenses to supercharge growth in the sector and enable businesses to fulfil their potential. The industry is also a significant feeder to the music industry, the birthplace of renowned DJ’s and artists. 

When selling your nightclub business, you will need to prepare your business for the sale process, conduct due diligence and enlist specialist help to guide you throughout the process. We run through what areas to take into consideration when selling your nightclub.

Preparing your nightclub business for sale

When selling your business, you will need to prepare your nightclub for the sale process to ensure that it is presented in the best condition. To ensure that your business sells for market value or more, the preparation stage is essential. Due diligence will be conducted by the nightclub seller and prospective buyers to eliminate uncertainty connected to the parties involved in the sale and to satisfy any queries.

If you wish to conduct a confidential sale, you may introduce a non-disclosure agreement to legally bind prospective buyers to keep business information and financial knowledge private. Advertising your business for sale openly could impact your relationship with employees, creating employment uncertainty and degrading morale. As a result, many business owners conduct this process under anonymity, legally protecting the disclosure of information.

To introduce your nightclub to the business sale market, we will help prepare an information memorandum which is an essential document to summarise key information about your nightclub. An information memorandum consists of the following information:

• Company profile: Background, ownership structure
• Financial history: Turnover, profit, loss, profit forecasts, assets, liabilities
• Nightclub premises: Freehold/leasehold, property valuation
• The reason behind the sale of your nightclub
• Employees: Pay, contract details, management structure

The information memorandum creates a window into your nightclub operations and should provide a basic behind the scenes snapshot. Prospective buyers expressing interest in your nightclub will be privy to comprehensive company data if they are considering submitting an offer. The Selling My Business team will assist with interactions with prospective buyers and conduct a valuation of your nightclub business. A business valuation of your nightclub is essential as this will calculate how much your business is worth and help determine an appropriate asking price that reflects market value.

Value my nightclub business

At Selling My Business, we have an in-house valuation team made up of professional business valuers. The Selling My Business team have over 100 years’ collective experience in preparing businesses for the sale process, including nightclubs and businesses in the night-time industry. The SMB valuation team will take you through how to value a nightclub business and offer a nightclub valuation as part of the business sale service.

When valuing a nightclub, we look at multiple areas which are likely to impact the physical value of your business and additional factors which may be of interest to interested buyers. We have the knowledge and experience required to maximise the value of your nightclub, having founded Selling My Business in 1956.

To conduct a valuation of your nightclub, we will require three years’ worth of recent or historic company accounts. Our team of experienced nightclub valuers will conduct a business discovery exercise to uncover areas directly impacting company value for the better and worse.

How much is my nightclub worth?

When looking to acquire a nightclub business, buyers are interested in the location, company reputation and growth potential, in addition to annual turnover and annual net profit. When valuing a nightclub business, the Selling My Business team will look beyond company financials to determine true worth.

Financials – The first area a prospective buyer will look at is the financial health of the business. If business productivity and performance is strong, prospective buyers are likely to match or exceed the guide sale price. If your business is in financial difficulty, this will attract a different class of buyers, such as business recovery professionals with turnaround experience

Location - The location of your nightclub and neighbouring businesses will influence footfall, and therefore the value of your nightclub. A city-centre location is likely to attract buyers as clubbers funnel through your doors after visiting surrounding bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The geographical location of the nightclub will determine the target audience, for example, if it is situated near a university, this is likely to attract a younger target audience than a nightclub located in an affluent location.

Licenses – To host late-night entertainment between 11 pm and 8 am and to entertain over 500 people, an entertainment license must be held by the on-license nightclub from the local council. The nightclub will also require an alcohol license for the premises and a designated premises supervisor will also hold a personal license. Nightclub owners may also have a music license to play music freely, legally and to ensure that the creators are paid fairly for their work.

Premises – The value of your nightclub property will be influenced by whether the premises are leasehold or freehold as this will determine the cost of running the business. The physical features of the property, fixtures and fittings will influence the sale price of the company. The overall capacity of the premises will also determine an income cap or indicate growth potential. Nightclub premises with abundant resources and equipment will minimise start-up investment for the buyer, increasing the value of the business.  

Growth potential – If your business has additional income streams which contribute towards overall company turnover, this is likely to influence company growth. Nightclubs with the resources and potential to extend their service offering may consist of the following:

• VIP areas
• DJ booths
• Champagne bar
• Rooftop terrace
• Smoking areas
• Outdoor areas
• Multiple lounges

When buying a nightclub, prospective buyers look at how the business can generate more profit, how growth can be stimulated and whether the business has scope for further development. A business with greater growth potential is likely to appeal to prospective buyers. Your industry experiences will provide a realistic view of what initiatives are proven to bear the fruits of your labour, and what areas have already been tried and tested.

Impact of Covid-19 on Night time Industry

The coronavirus pandemic which was declared in 2019 led to the slow deterioration of the hospitality industry as national curfews, trading restrictions and social distancing measures were introduced. As footfall was eliminated overnight, the Night time industry was plugged with government support and cash reserves to stay afloat. As the industry returns stronger and more resilient, buyers are searching to fulfil their lifelong desire to own a nightclub and secure employment certainty. The business sale market for nightclubs remains buoyant with new nightclubs entering the market daily.

If you would like to sell your nightclub, contact a member of the Selling My business team today for a nightclub business valuation. We are experts in the business sale arena and have a proven track record of selling businesses in the Night time and hospitality industry.