Independent Tool and Plant Hire Business For Sale

Business description

This family run business has been trading since 1985, moving to its well suited, low overhead premises in a small parade of shops in 1998. Ideally located on the borders of Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire and within easy reach of excellent motorway links this business welcomes all types of customers – local builders, civil engineers, local authorities, public utilities, groundworkers, factories, farmers, landscape gardeners and private DIY and gardening enthusiasts, in fact everyone bar contractors (deliberately excluded due to their propensity for slow payment) with the widest range possible of quality plant and tool hire items.
This business has specialized in supplying niche market equipment. As a consequence it has developed a highly loyal customer base, confident in the knowledge that they will always be able to get the plant and equipment they need from this outlet whatever the job. Such is the breadth of plant and equipment available that this business is probably one of the few operations to offer toilet hire and has even recently included portable traffic lights within its range. It is not uncommon for this business to be recommended by the bigger names within the sector because even they acknowledge that this business will carry equipment that other hire centres do not have.

Property information

Location:

The business operates from a small secondary retail outlet of approximately 1500 square feet with a yard to the rear which includes additional secure storage for plant and equipment available for hire. Rent is currently £9,400 per annum with rates of £1,000 per annum.
The outlet is located within a small parade of shops which includes a fish and chip takeaway and as a consequence large volumes of builders generating high levels of awareness and footfall on the edge of a large residential development. There is ample free parking available. The premises are ideally located for easy access to good transport links via the excellent motorway network close by.
The owners of the business are currently in negotiations to purchase the freehold of the premises thought to be available for around £130,000 to include the ground floor retail site, the nearby car park and the access road to the parade of shops. It is understood that the area will see high levels of residential development within the next few years.

Other information

Competition / Market:

Well established locally and enjoying high levels of awareness, repeat business and excellent levels of word of mouth recommendation, particularly from other local hire centres this business has little need of advertising, featuring only in local yellow Pages and Thomson’s directories. It has one signwritten van used for deliveries and collections which helps maintains awareness locally.

Support & training:

The Owner would be happy to work with the new owners for a short period to ensure continuity and the smooth transfer of the business to new Owners. The third family member, a nephew of the owners is currently apprenticed to the business and would be considered to be an excellent asset to new owners.

Reasons for selling:

Having been involved in the tool and plant hire trade for over twenty years and having built the business up to its current size and scale the Owner feels the time is right to pass it on to new Owners to build on the excellent foundations already laid.

Trading hours:

The business currently operates between 7.30 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Fridays only with arrangements made on an ad hoc basis for certain key customers to collect plant and equipment on Saturdays.