How do I sell a ski and snowboard shop?

A ski and snowboard shop is hard to sell mid-season, and buyers will want to see a full winter before they commit. Starting early lets you prepare calmly instead of answering questions between customers. Here is how many owners approach it, and the points a buyer is likely to raise.

Choosing when to list

The off-season is usually the easier time to talk with buyers and to show the shop. Think about pre-season brand orders too. Decide who will place them, you or the buyer, and say so early. A buyer who inherits orders you placed will want to know what they are, and you will want to avoid orders nobody planned to take.

Records to prepare

Gather monthly sales for several winters, with notes on poor snow years. Prepare a stock list that separates current from older items, and a fleet list showing the age of each rental item and when it was last replaced. Your accountant can help you present the statements so a buyer can follow them without a long explanation.

Brand relationships and the team

Dealer agreements with brands may not pass automatically to a new owner. Read yours, then ask each brand how it deals with a change of ownership. Your technicians and boot fitters are part of what a buyer is buying. Decide when to tell them, and whether a retention arrangement makes sense. Your lawyer can advise on how to put it in writing.

Working with a broker

A broker can bring buyers and manage the process. Ask whom the broker acts for, how they are paid, and what the listing agreement commits you to before you sign. Our page on what to check before buying a ski shop shows what buyers will examine.