How do I introduce a motel’s on-site manager to a buyer without unsettling the staff?
Tell the manager first, privately, and agree on what the staff will be told. Introduce the buyer as a person interested in the business rather than as the new owner. Keep visits short, at quiet times, and have the manager see the buyer as a colleague. Say plainly what is and is not decided.
Your manager is the person staff watch for clues. So begin there. Explain that you are talking to a buyer, why, and what you hope for. Ask for their help in a way that respects their position, and be honest about what you cannot promise. If you plan to ask the manager to stay, say so early.
Agree on a cover for the first visits. A buyer touring the property may be described as a supplier or a visitor only if that is true. Otherwise keep it short and honest: someone is interested and nothing is final. Choose quiet times of day so housekeeping and front desk work are not disrupted.
Once the buyer is serious, hold the introductions deliberately: manager first, then the team together. Let the buyer explain how they work and what they value. Afterward, check in with the manager about the mood. Your lawyer can advise on confidentiality and on any promises about jobs. If the manager lives on site, raise housing early. A change of owner can worry them about both job and home. Ask the buyer what they intend, and let the manager hear it from the buyer directly.
Key takeaways
- Tell the manager before anyone else, in private.
- Agree what staff will hear and keep to it.
- Introduce the buyer in stages and check the mood afterward.
- Raise housing early if the manager lives on the property.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustryHow to sell your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to reduce employee turnover
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