How do I prepare a bottle depot for sale?

Buyers of a bottle depot want to see a business that keeps running when the owner steps back. You can help them see that. The work is mostly gathering and tidying, and most of it can start months before anyone asks. Here is what to put in order, in roughly the sequence that makes the rest easier.

Records that tie together

Pull together monthly container volumes and the payment statements those volumes reconcile to. A buyer will want to see that the two agree, and that you can explain any gap. Add your financial statements and any notes on unusual months, such as a large bottle drive. Clean, consistent records make every later conversation shorter.

Equipment, staff and the site

• An equipment list with age, condition and service history
• A staff roster showing who does what, and who could run the depot without you
• The lease, with the landlord’s likely position on a new tenant
• Your pickup arrangements with the haulers who collect the containers

Before buyers visit, tidy the floor, sorting areas and yard. A well-kept site tells a buyer that the work is under control.

Staff and confidentiality

Decide who in your team learns about the sale, and when. Staff who hear rumours may leave, and customers may wonder what is changing. Ask buyers to sign a confidentiality agreement before they see volume records. Your lawyer can draft it.

Ask about the permit early

A depot may operate under a permit or agreement, and ask whether it transfers like an ordinary asset. Ask your lawyer early whether it can move to a buyer and what steps that involves, because the answer shapes who can realistically buy. For the general steps, read how to prepare your business for sale.