Knowledge base
Long-form, expert-reviewed guides for UK cafe owners
Every guide is written by a hospitality M&A specialist, reviewed by a relevant UK practitioner (FCA, solicitor or RICS), and updated for the 2026 trading and regulatory landscape.
Valuation
The Definitive Guide to UK Cafe Valuation: How Much is My Coffee Shop Worth?
An exhaustive 2026 framework for valuing a UK independent cafe — covering SDE, sector multipliers (1.5x–3.5x), asset audits, goodwill, lease impact and three years of P&L normalisation.
Legal & Employment
Navigating TUPE and Staff Transfers When Selling a UK Cafe Business
A definitive 2026 walkthrough of TUPE 2006 for UK café sellers — covering automatic transfer, information and consultation, Employee Liability Information, objections, and lawful post-sale restructuring under ETO reasons.
Property & Lease
Transferring a Cafe Lease: Assigning Commercial Property to a Buyer
How to transfer a UK cafe lease to a buyer in 2026 — assignment vs. subletting, the reasonableness test on landlord consent, AGAs, LTA 1954 security, buyer vetting and the licence to assign timeline.
Tax & Structuring
Capital Gains Tax & Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) for UK Cafe Sales
How UK cafe sale proceeds are taxed in 2026 — the 18% BADR rate vs. 24% higher CGT, the £1m lifetime limit, two-year qualification, price allocation strategy and earn-out timing.
Deal Structuring
Asset Purchase vs. Share Purchase: How to Structure Your Cafe Sale
The complete 2026 framework for deciding between an Asset Purchase Agreement and a Share Purchase Agreement on a UK cafe sale — risk allocation, tax outcomes, due diligence and warranty exposure.
Operations & Value
Turnkey Operations: Systematising Your Cafe to Double Its Enterprise Value
A 12-month playbook to convert your owner-operator café into an absentee-investor asset — SOPs, recipe costing, tech stack, supplier lock-in, manager promotion and digital handover.
Due Diligence
Surviving Due Diligence: The Legal and Financial Audit Checklist for Cafe Sellers
An exhaustive 30-point due diligence matrix for UK cafe sellers in 2026 — covering EPOS-to-VAT reconciliation, EICR, CP12 gas safety, fire risk assessments, Legionella testing, FHRS history and asset leases.
Property & Leasehold
Managing Landlords, Rent Reviews, and 2026 Property Compliance During a Cafe Sale
A landlord-management playbook for UK cafe sellers in 2026 — covering rent reviews, s.25 notices, MEES/EPC Grade C transition, dilapidations, personal guarantees and superior landlord consent chains.
Deal Structure
Financing a Cafe Purchase: Understanding Earn-Outs, Vendor Loans, and Buyer Funding
A seller-side framework for deferred consideration in UK cafe deals — earn-outs tied to gross profit, vendor loan notes, commercial mortgage realities, debentures, escrow and clawback clauses.
Post-Completion
The Cafe Handover Period: Transitioning Operational Control and Protecting Customer Retention
A 30-day post-completion playbook for UK cafe handovers — covering training-period structuring, digital asset transfer, EPOS and merchant migration, staff morale and customer-retention PR.