How do I prepare my café accounts for a roaster ownership change?

Begin with a list of everything that flows between the café and the roaster. What do you owe for coffee and supplies, and when is it due? Does the roaster lend equipment, such as a grinder or espresso machine, or share in marketing? Check the paperwork for each arrangement, including any minimum purchase commitment, and ask whether the terms change with a new owner. Your lawyer can read the agreement and tell you what it says.

Next, review your payables and receivables. Are invoices paid on time and matched to deliveries? Do you sell to others, such as offices, who owe you money? Make a clear list of who owes what and how old each balance is. Fix errors, collect what you can, and note any disputes. A tidy ledger makes you look reliable and builds confidence with the new owner.

Finally, speak to your accountant about how the change affects your books, and put the key records in one folder: statements, contracts, equipment lists, credits and recent reports. Ask the roaster’s new owner for contact details and a schedule for any changes. Let your staff know about timing for orders, so supply is not interrupted during the switch.

Key takeaways

• List what you owe and are owed, with the age of each balance.
• Check supply terms and any equipment loans against the written agreement.
• Keep statements, contracts and equipment lists in one folder.