BSR
BSR
  • Home
  • Distressed Businesses
    • All Distressed Businessess
    • Administrations
    • Liquidations
    • Winding Up
    • Insolvency Advice  New
  • Buy a Business
    • All Businesses for Sale
    • Find a Business for Sale
    • Raising Business Finance
    • Buyer Acquisition Service   New
    • Escrow Service   New
  • Sell a Business
    • Sell Your Business
    • Seller Accounts
    • Need Help Selling?
    • Help With Finance New
    • Business Valuation
    • Business Wanted Adverts
  • Insights & News
    • View All News
    • View All Insights
  • Off-market
    • Source deals
  • Log In
  • Join Now
Join now
11111111

Home / Insights / Scarcity of business buyers creating opportunities for others

Scarcity of business buyers creating opportunities for others

FOR BUYERS
Scarcity of business buyers creating opportunities for others

The Electrical Contractors’ Association has warned that business owners who are keen to sell up and enjoy their retirement are finding it increasingly tough to find buyers.

A variety of reasons lie behind the lack of buyers, including continued tight bank lending, public spending cuts and the uncertain financial climate.

The scarcity of willing and able buyers opens up numerous opportunities for those with cash who can move fast. There are currently numerous businesses up for sale at bargain prices and owners – especially those looking to retire – may be willing to do a good deal.

If they are unable to sell up, many owners who are approaching retirement are now being forced to close down their businesses in order to release some money, or alternatively must continue to run the business for far longer than they would have liked.

President of the Electrical Contractors’ Association, Diane Johnson, said, “Some of them are saying they are closing their businesses down. It is not in the hundreds but it’s definitely more than normal. They are closing them down because they can’t find people to buy them, because the people working for them can no longer raise the finance.

“If you go to the bank, they are asking, 'what’s your order book like for next year?’ Some companies don’t have order books beyond the next few weeks,” she added.

Whereas in previous years, family business owners were prone to taking some equity out of the business and handing it over to their staff. However, with the ongoing economic situation, increasing numbers of staff are now unwilling to take on the business as they are concerned they will not be able to realise the necessary cash needed to do so.

Ms Johnson added that confidence has undergone a severe knock due to the sweeping public spending cuts.

For those that are looking to make acquisitions, the lack of other buyers in the marketplace – and oversupply of owners keen to sell up – could provide the perfect opportunity – at a knock-down price.


Share this article



Latest Businesses for Sale

Roofing Contractor Specialising in Slating & Leadwork
UK Wide

The company is a multi-award-winning roofing contractor specialising in natural slate, leadwork and roof restoration projects. The company primarily completes historic restorations and also carries out commercial and domestic work. The quality of...

Asking Price: Offers Invited
Turnover: £1,200,000

LEASEHOLD


Provider of Data Cabling & Network Infrastructure
UK Wide

The company designs, installs, maintains and supports structured cabling; local area and wireless networks; CCTV and access control systems; and telephony and internet services. Operating nationally, the company caters to a diverse client base that i...

Asking Price: Offers Invited
Turnover: £3,500,000

FREEHOLD


Chinese Takeaway
South East, UK

A long-established business which has been owned and operated by the owners for in excess of 12 years. The premises is well presented throughout, with quality fixtures, fittings and equipment included within the sale price.

Asking Price: Offers Invited
Turnover: £416,000

FREEHOLD



View more businesses for sale

Search Insights

Latest Insights

Tips for scaling up your six-figure business prior to a sale

FOR BUYERS

2023: An outlook on developing M&A trends

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Elon Musk, Twitter and Acquisition Mistakes

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Free guide: 10 Biggest Buyer Mistakes

Sign up to receive our acquisition alert emails to get your FREE guide

Email


Insight Categories

  • - For Buyers
  • - For Sellers
  • - Distressed Businesses
  • - Industry Insights
  • - Sector Guides

View all insights

Want access to the latest businesses for sale?

Business Sale Report is your complete solution to finding great acquisition opportunities.

Join today to receive:

  • Comprehensive range of businesses for sale
  • Make direct contact with business sellers or their intermediaries
  • Access to all UK administrations, liquidations and winding-up petitions
  • Daily email alerts for the latest businesses for sale & distressed notifications
  • Business Sale Report publication posted to you every month
  • Advertise your acquisition requirements on our "business wanted" section

All this and much more, including the latest M&A news and exclusive resources

Become a Member
logo
Our Services Distressed Businesses
  • Businesses for Sale
  • Distressed Companies
  • List a Business
  • Help with Finance
  • Buyer Acquisition Service
  • Small Businesses for Sale
Company Buy a Business
  • About BSR
  • Insights
  • News
  • FAQs
  • Reviews
Get In Touch
020 8875 0200
[email protected]
167 Oakhill Road, London, SW15 2QW
Working hours: Mon-Fri, 9am - 5:30pm
About BSR
Business Sale Report is the UK's leading
independent business for sale & distressed business listing service.
Established in 1995, BSR offers an up-to-the-minute, comprehensive overview of businesses for sale, latest distressed business listings and daily acquisition news.
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news about the latest businesses for sale.

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • linkedin
  • facebook
  • twitter
© 1995-2023. Business Sale Report Ltd. All rights reserved. www.business-sale.com.