Business Summary

A GENUINE RETIREMENT SALE OF A LONG ESTABLISHED HOME-BASED LOFT LADDER INSTALLATION BUSINESS BASED IN EAST SUSSEX

LOCATION
This long established business trades from a home based office and therefore can very easily be relocated anywhere in East Sussex, or indeed West Sussex if preferred.

The owner of the business, who has been reducing his workload over recent years, has deliberately kept trade within a local area, covering from Brighton/ Hove in the West to Hastings in the East and inland to Crowborough on the edge of Tunbridge Wells, which provides more than enough business without the need for any advertising, other than the current website. Leaving considerable scope for a new owner to expand the trade and area covered if desired.

THE BUSINESS
Established by the owner in 1986 the business provides a unique and specialized service with an extensive range of loft access solutions. The owner simply supplies and installs a variety of quality loft ladders in timber or aluminum at all inclusive prices.

The ladders themselves are purchased at greatly discounted prices directly from the manufacturers, who have an excellent long term business relationship with the owner, and can easily be stored in a standard size domestic garage, and although the current owner only supplies and installs, further development potential exists to sell the ladders direct to the public via the website for self installation. Although it is worth noting that the majority of the current clientele who are generally retired or more elderly prefer to have a professional installation, all of which can easily be achieved by anybody with only a small amount of DIY knowledge and training.

The vast majority of installations are on domestic properties and are easily completed by the owner alone, although occasionally he also installs ladders in commercial premises which includes schools, churches and access rooms, etc, and on any larger jobs the owner uses a self-employed sub-contractor who is happy to help and it is envisaged that this arrangement could continue if desired.

Working on the current relaxed basis, the turnover in the last financial year to 30th April was £34,536 with a re-constituted Net Profit in excess of £13,600 after all running costs and expenses were deducted, but for a new enthusiastic owner it is worth noting that the turnover quoted was for only 10 months trade (1 month holidays and 1 month in Australia) and has previously been in excess of £60,000 with a re-constituted net profit around £30,000 and in the right hands the business has lots more potential to easily develop.

We understand the business has very little competition and what competition there is are more expensive, leaving scope to increase the current prices if desired. Further potential also exists to add loft flooring boards and/or insulation to the website and service offered, as any enquiries currently received are simply passed over to other providers.

Work is obtained from the businesses website which although fairly basic comes up high in the appropriate Google search rankings and from very occasional local advertising in the Friday Ad, but again if a more active campaign was undertaken or the website improved, it would undoubtedly increase trade. Lots of customers also come by way of recommendation from existing clients.

As detailed earlier the owner who has run the business for the past 27 years (since 1986) is now looking to fully retire and has over recent years only undertaken 2 or 3 installations a day when he is working, when it is possible to install 4 in a normal day. We understand that the current average profit margin per job is £100.

The sale includes the website, business goodwill, existing business telephone number, the required equipment to install the ladders and the option to purchase the current van, which is a 2006 registered Vauxhall Combo LWB.

The owner is also happy to help train any potential purchaser to ensure a smooth handover and successful transition to new ownership. Stock held is extra and is estimated at around £1,000.

Property Details

Other Business Details

Business Operation Details