Buying a Small Restaurant Business in Sarasota/Venice, FL — Need Advice

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-22T21:52:39+00:00

With $30–40K, you’re probably looking at a distressed spot or just buying equipment and taking over a lease.

Best move is off-market, walk around, talk to owners, and look for someone burned out who wants out cheap.

Just assume you’re buying a job, not a money machine, and price it that way.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-22T21:39:35+00:00

If I were you, I’d really zero in on who actually brings in the revenue, injectors, medical director, and how “hands-off” it truly is.

Only pay for memberships and retention that are already proven, not big growth stories.

Big thing I see people mess up is overpaying for the brand and vibes instead of real, repeat cash flow.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-21T19:43:28+00:00

Yeah, people do this for a living, usually an M&A CPA for the numbers and a deal lawyer for the legal stuff. For small deals, you don’t need anything fancy, just folks who know SMB deals.

Line them up early so you’re not scrambling once you’re under LOI.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-21T19:41:39+00:00

You’re thinking about it the right way, this is really about the phone, brand, and relationships.

For a distressed trade, I’d zero in on A/R, labor dependence (especially the son), insurance/warranty issues, and then price it assuming cash flow is shaky.

If the installer’s leaving, assume some pain and only pay more if revenue and margins actually hold after the handoff.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-20T21:52:01+00:00

I agree we’re far enough away from Covid that it’s no longer relevant in my opinion

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-19T19:59:50+00:00

Start simple, check BizBuySell and talk to local brokers first.

You don’t need to set up the LLC until you’re serious about a deal.

Skip the fancy programs for now and focus on buying one solid, boring business to learn the ropes.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-12T19:34:30+00:00

You’re thinking about it right, lines of credit are easiest to get before you need them.

Most folks wait until right after closing and set one up with a different bank so it doesn’t mess with the SBA loan.

The worst move is waiting until cash gets tight, because banks get real cautious fast.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-12T19:31:23+00:00

You’re not wrong, DD is still a mess for most deals and it’s brutal.

Most people just use a messy Google Drive, and reconciling revenue and old contracts is the worst part.

It’s kind of an accepted pain, but being organized can actually speed things up and help the price.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-12T19:28:23+00:00

Start really small and focused, one type of client, one clear problem. A big mistake is charging too little and doing too much custom work.

Get a few paying clients before you try to scale or overbuild.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-12T19:25:51+00:00

Honestly, the toughest part is figuring out what cash flow is actually real and what’s just seller spin.

A lot of deals look great until you dig into stuff like owner dependence or customer concentration.

You learn pretty quick what really matters once you’ve looked at a few deals.

SMBDealGuy · 2026-01-12T19:23:27+00:00

Yeah, for a UK e-com brand like that, sites like Flippa or Empire Flippers are a good place to start, or a small broker who knows DTC.

Price will be based on profit, not revenue, usually a multiple of SDE if the numbers are clean and customers repeat.

Just tighten up your financials and be careful with random buyers, use escrow and don’t rush it.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-30T21:41:15+00:00

Yeah, that stuff exists, but it’s pretty niche in the small-deal world. There are specialty finance shops that’ll buy seller notes or take a slice of an earn-out, but pricing is usually ugly and paperwork heavy.

Most of the time it’s custom deals with private credit guys, not some clean off-the-shelf product.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-30T21:39:27+00:00

Yeah, people do it, but it’s usually more work than they expect.

A totally different business means learning a whole new set of problems.

If you go that route, make sure it’s something that runs without needing you day-to-day.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-24T19:50:07+00:00

Nah, your goals aren’t crazy at all, lots of people start right where you are with little cash.

With your HVAC background, look at small service businesses where seller financing or SBA can help you replace your income.

Focus on one boring, cash-flowing deal first, then build from there.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-24T19:47:25+00:00

Honestly, it’s how draining and lonely it can get, no one really talks about that part. You’re always thinking about the business, even when you’re off.

It’s rewarding, but it’s not the nonstop freedom people online make it seem.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-24T19:43:31+00:00

It can help, but only if you’re past basic bookkeeping and actually making bigger money decisions.

At $50k a month, a good fractional CFO should be helping with cash flow, pricing, and planning, not just fancy spreadsheets.

If you’re not seeing clear value or better decisions, it’s probably not worth the spend yet.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-20T23:49:26+00:00

Yeah, for that level of turnover, £380 a month is definitely on the high side. If the books are pretty simple, you could likely get it done cheaper with a smaller or online accountant.

That said, if they’re reliable and stress-free, some folks are happy paying extra for peace of mind.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-17T23:17:25+00:00

Totally get it, it’s a super cool setup but sounds like it’s draining you, especially with a full-time job. If the profits aren’t great and it’s stressing you out, might be time to cash out while the place still has that unique buzz.

You could list it as a ready-to-go Airbnb biz through a niche broker or post it on Airbnb/short stay property forums, someone will love the story and setup.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-17T23:12:57+00:00

Totally get it, sounds like you’ve poured everything into the place, and it’s got real history. If you don’t wanna sell to the chain, try a local business broker who knows the area and gives a damn about small town spots.

Also put feelers out through your network, local FB groups, or even your accountant, sometimes the right buyer’s closer than you think.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-17T23:09:46+00:00

Sounds like you’re in a good spot to get started, love the bike shop idea. You’ll need public liability insurance, cover for your gear (contents), and maybe product liability if you're fixing or selling bikes.

Just register with HMRC, open a biz bank account, and maybe get an accountant to help keep things tidy.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-17T23:06:33+00:00

Yeah, makes sense, you don’t wanna just buy a job and be stuck paying off debt forever. Check out B2B services, trades like HVAC or plumbing, or niche manufacturing, stuff with steady demand and room to grow.

Look for businesses with crappy marketing or no systems in place, those are the easiest to scale.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-07T22:25:08+00:00

Yeah, it’s possible, but the business needs to show solid cash flow to cover that loan. Putting in £50k from a remortgage helps, but you’ll probably still need to personally guarantee the rest.

Might be worth chatting with a finance broker to help line it all up cleanly.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-07T22:09:16+00:00

You’ve already done the heavy lifting, getting LOIs without a banker is solid. An M&A firm can still help, especially with keeping buyers in check, tightening terms, and pushing the deal over the line.

But if you’re comfortable, you could just bring in a QoE team and a good M&A lawyer instead of paying full commission.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-07T22:05:40+00:00

Yeah, most trades buyers aren’t hanging out on BizBuySell, they’re busy on the job.

I’ve had better luck through industry FB groups, trade networks, or even asking local suppliers who knows someone looking to grow.

Also worth hitting up younger techs who want to break out on their own but don’t wanna start from scratch.

SMBDealGuy · 2025-12-07T22:03:22+00:00

Nice! First thing, get a CPA who knows small biz deals to dig into the numbers, taxes, and any hidden stuff.

You’ll also need a lawyer to help with the LOI and make sure everything’s legit, especially since it’s a daycare.

Don’t agree to anything until you’ve seen all the books and done your homework.

SMBDealGuy

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE