Can I sell my barbershop if I’m the only barber?
Yes. A one-chair shop can be sold, but the buyer is taking on the location, fit-out, lease and booking list more than a team. Expect buyers who cut hair themselves, expect a longer handover, and consider bringing in a second barber before you list so the trade is not tied to you alone.
Selling a one-chair shop is possible, and plenty of small shops change hands this way. It is a different sale from a shop with a team, though. When you are the only barber, the clients know you, and a buyer will ask what they are really getting.
What a buyer is buying
Without a team, the value is in what stays when you go: the location, the fit-out, the lease, the equipment and the booking list. Put those in order. A tidy lease, a clear equipment list and booking history that shows real regulars make the shop easier to understand and easier to trust.
Who is likely to buy
Some buyers will be barbers who want their own shop and plan to cut hair themselves. Some will want to hire. Tell each of them plainly how the shop runs now. A buyer who cuts hair can take over your chair, but they will still want to meet your clients and learn the routine.
Handover and a second barber
Offer a handover period so regulars meet the new owner with you in the room. Ask your accountant how any paid transition support is treated. You might also bring in a second barber before you sell, so the shop shows it can earn without you. That takes time, so start early.
If your shop has a team, how to sell a barbershop without losing its regulars covers that case. A similar one-person situation is in selling a plumbing business when you’re the only plumber.
Related reading
15 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Selling
- Expert answerHow do I sell a barbershop without losing its regulars?
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Buying
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying a barbershop?
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- Expert answerWhat happens to wedding bookings when a florist is sold?
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying a wig store?
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to minimize negotiations when selling your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentBusiness valuation: What’s your company worth?
- 03Canada Revenue AgencyGovernmentRestrictive covenant
- 04Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
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