Asking price: £225,000

Sales revenue: £200k < 500k

Net profit: < £100k

Fixtures value: Undisclosed

Stock value: Undisclosed

Business description
This profitable niche business makes and sells equipment for classic boats. The ability to work in bronze has led to recent moves into the manufacture of non-marine items such as furniture. Gross Profit is more than 50%.

Years established: 17

Employees: 5

Trading hours: Mon-Fri 9.00 to 5.30

Relocatable: This business can be relocated.

Property: Leasehold

Location
The business has occupied leasehold premises of 1800 sq ft on 2 levels. Since the business is running out of space a move is planned in autumn 2008 to larger 4,000 sq ft premises.

Expansion potential
There is a good deal of scope for improving marketing and sales and improving the efficiency of operations. In addition, a number of new products and services are also about to come on stream.

Competition / Market
The business occupies a niche position in the market, barriers to entry comprising the technical knowledge underpinning the business, the specialist skills in manufacture and the accumulation of loyal customers over a 17-year period. Customers The customer database now comprises over 15,000 people, adding about 1,000 per year. We also have long-term relationships with suppliers, the specialist media and complementary members of the industry (eg designers, woodworkers etc). Basis of business The success of the business is based on: - Technical expertise - Specialism, but within that, flexibility - A long-term view. Promotion, Marketing and Advertising With a well-established specialist firm, the main methods of promotion are currently word-of-mouth, the internet, and by support, sponsorship and participation in appropriate events. It is all very low-key and could almost certainly be improved by a more structured approach.

Support & training
The current owner is willing to provide handover and training as required.

Reasons for selling
The current owner (and founder) sees the need for different skills as the industry and business mature, and would also like to develop other non-related projects. He is prepared to consider options other than an outright sale of the whole.