How do I sell a pool and hot tub store?

A store that sells pool supplies and hot tubs is different from a service route or an installer. You have a storefront, stock on the floor, dealer lines and a customer list that comes back year after year. A buyer will look at all of it, so the more of it you have in order, the smoother the sale goes. Start the work well ahead of any listing.

Choose the timing

Think about where the sale falls in the year. Buyers like to see a full season of sales, yet they also need time to learn the shop before the rush. Talk with your accountant about when a sale suits your own plans. Some owners list in the quiet months so that closing lands before spring orders, but yours may differ.

Stock and showroom records

Keep a clean record of what is on the floor and in the back, with ages for chemicals and parts, and note which showroom units are financed and by whom. Expect the buyer to count stock and compare it with your purchases, as in selling a music store. Tidy records make that count short and calm.

Manufacturers, customers and brokers

Speak to your brand manufacturers early about a new owner, since a dealer line may need their approval and your lawyer can tell you how it is transferred. Gather your customer, loyalty and service records, and ask your lawyer how privacy rules apply to sharing them. If you use a broker, ask whom they act for, how they are paid and how long the agreement runs.