What records should I gather before listing my restaurant for sale?

Begin with the money. Buyers want statements for recent years, tax filings, daily sales reports, bank deposits and payroll summaries that agree with each other. If the numbers do not match, work out why before anyone else asks. Ask your accountant to prepare a clear summary of the real earnings, including any one-time costs and the pay you take as owner.

Next, collect the contracts and the premises. That means the lease and any amendments, equipment lists with who owns each item, service and repair records, supplier agreements, catering and delivery arrangements, insurance, and licences. Buyers will also look for recent inspection results and how you handled any findings. Missing paperwork reads as risk, so locate it now.

Finally, gather the people and customer side: an organization chart, roles and pay, who holds key knowledge, and recipes you intend to include. Decide what stays confidential until a buyer is serious. Before you share anything sensitive, have the buyer sign a confidentiality agreement drawn up by your lawyer. Keep everything in one organized folder you can share in stages.

Key takeaways

• Make your financial statements, tax filings and sales reports agree before a buyer compares them.
• Collect the lease, equipment ownership, supplier, staff and inspection records in one organized folder you can share in stages.
• Share sensitive records only after a signed confidentiality agreement from your lawyer.