President, Industry Expert
ERIC GAGNON is the founder and President of We Sell Restaurants and
wesellrestaurants.com. He is the nation’s leading restaurant broker. Eric is an industry expert in restaurant sales and valuation. He is a frequent speaker and writer for the restaurant industry and hosted a restaurant brokerage segment on Atlanta radio for a number of years. Eric is co-author of
Appetite for Acquisition a book on restaurant brokerage published in 2012 and named "Best of 2012" by Small Business Book Awards. Eric began his career in the financial services industry for Bank of America, Bank of New York and big five accounting firm, KPMG before launching the nation’s premiere restaurant brokerage firm and restaurant brokerage franchise. Eric is designated a Business Industry Expert by Business Brokerage Press and earned the designation of Accredited Business Intermediary from the American Business Brokers Association. Eric is Past President of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers and Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Club. He is a member of the International Business Brokers Association, Business Brokers of Florida and the International Franchise Association. Eric is licensed as a Broker in both Georgia and Florida. He holds degrees from major universities in both the United States and Canada.
Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
P.O. Box 387
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136
Phone: 386 439 0934
Fax: 888 668 8625
South Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
9858 Glades Road, Suite D-3, #106
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Phone: 561 350 3365
Fax 561 206 0957
Atlanta Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
101 Centennial Olympic Park Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: 404 513 5378
Fax: 1 888 668 8625
Chief Marketing Officer, MBA, Certified Restaurant Broker Trainer
ROBIN GAGNON is the Vice President of We Sell Restaurants and Chief Marketing Officer. Robin is one of handful of women in the industry working as a restaurant broker full time and has carved a principal role in the industry as a writer, speaker and advisor. She has sold hundreds of restaurants and bars. Robin is a prolific writer and guide to the restaurant industry. Her expert articles appear online and in print across the country. She co-authored
Appetite for Acquisition, the definitive guide for buying a restaurant in 2012 and has also appeared on Atlanta radio for a number of years. Her book was named "Best of 2012" by Small Business Book Awards. Prior to joining We Sell Restaurants, Robin served as Vice President of Strategic Marketing for a $4 billion dollar retailer and Director of Advertising and Director of Business Development for another Fortune 100 company.
Robin holds an undergraduate degree and an MBA where she graduated first in her class and was named "Outstanding MBA." Robin is an emeritus member of the ASU Business Advisory Council. She is also a founding member of the ASU Entrepreneurship Board. Robin is a licensed real estate salesperson in both Georgia and Florida and member of the Business Brokers of Florida and the International Franchise Association. She has been named a National Industry Expert by Business Brokerage Press.
Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
P.O. Box 387
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136
Phone: 386 439 0934
Fax: 888 668 8625
South Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
9858 Glades Road, Suite D-3, #106
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Phone: 561 350 3365
Fax 561 206 0957
Atlanta Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
101 Centennial Olympic Park Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: 404 513 5378
Fax: 1 888 668 8625
Carolyn is a key member of the Florida team and represents buyers and sellers throughout Florida with an emphasis on the Daytona/Volusia/Flagler areas. Carolyn has firsthand restaurant experience that brings real knowledge to buyers and sellers. She and her husband own the ever popular Flagler Fish Company in Flagler Beach that features "Food to Knock Your Flops Off(tm). Prior to the launch of their latest restaurant in 2005, Carolyn was the owner/operator of the acclaimed New Yorker Marketplace & Delicatessen in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA) and the New Yorker Deli in Vinings. In addition to her restaurant experience, she spent a number of years in the sports marketing field. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and a Minor in Marketing from Clemson University. She is a licensed real estate salesperson in Florida. Her extensive background includes front end and back end restaurant operations experience. Combine this with first hand restaurant start-up knowledge plus marketing and Carolyn is your "go-to" source when buying or selling a restaurant in Florida. Carolyn is a member of the Business Brokers of Florida.
Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
P.O. Box 387
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136
Phone: 386 439 0934
Fax: 888 668 8625
South Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
9858 Glades Road, Suite D-3, #106
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Phone: 561 350 3365
Fax 561 206 0957
Shawn brings over 20 years of management and ownership experience in the food and beverage industry to the We Sell Restaurant team. Shawn's experience in the hospitality industry began when he attended Auburn University in Auburn AL while seeking a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. It was during this time that he was sure that once he completed his educational goals he would "never" stay in the hospitality industry. That was not the case and since then, he has literally held every position that the restaurant and nightclub industry has to offer. Shawn's extensive hands on experience and industry insight led him to provide restaurant consulting services throughout the Southeast for existing and start up businesses. He assisted with everything from complete start up and general operations packages to financial consulting and expansion services. Shawn was also responsible for the development and directing of the Sales Division of Tradewind Business Systems, supplying Point of Sale software and hardware products for the restaurant industry. Shawn is a licensed real estate sales person in Florida specializing in Restaurants, Nightclubs and Liquor Licenses. Shawn is a member of the Business Brokers of Florida. You can reach him by emailing shawn@wesellrestaurants.com or calling 407 924 7755.
Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
P.O. Box 387
Flagler Beach, Florida 32136
Phone: 386 439 0934
Fax: 888 668 8625
South Florida Restaurant Brokers
We Sell Restaurants
9858 Glades Road, Suite D-3, #106
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Phone: 561 350 3365
Fax 561 206 0957
Certifed Restaurant Broker©
What is a Certified Restaurant Broker©?
A Certified Restaurant Broker© has undergone pre-testing, post-testing, classroom instruction and field training by some of the industry's experts in restaurant brokerage.
This 100 hour program is the beginning of attaining this important certification. Ongoing mentoring, support and training are required to maintain Certified Restaurant Broker© status.
Are you interested in a Florida Restaurant for sale? Considering buying your own bar on the beach for sale in Florida? Do you need information on how to buy a Florida restaurant or help in financing a Florida restaurant for sale? Our Florida restaurant brokers have the answers.
Why Consider Florida if you are Interested in buying a Restaurant?
Florida is a business-friendly environment where an entrepreneurial spirit, competitive costs and streamlined regulations are the drivers of small business.
Florida is the 4th most populous state in the nation and the most populous state in the Southeast with 19 million residents in 2011. Florida's total personal income ranks 4th in the nation and 1st in the southeast (2010).
Florida is home to three of the nation's most cost competitive large metros. Florida ranks among America's Top 10 most Entrepreneurial states and has more than 2 million small businesses. Florida's universities are regarded as some of the best in the country in technology transfer. Florida is also global hub with its strategic geographic location, infrastructure and concentration of corporate and financial resources. All of this activity, around entrepreneurship and the creation of a business friendly environment keep people moving to the sunshine state. Those people need to eat! That doesn’t include the tourists who descend on the land of Mickey Mouse and more. Florida ranks 1st in the southeast and 3rd in the nation in leisure and hospitality. That's a growth industry you're thinking of joining.
Florida restaurants are expected to do $31.5 billion in sales in 2012 according to the National Restaurant Association. There were 34,914 eating and drinking places in Florida as of 2010. A whopping 841,900 people are employed in the restaurant industry in Florida or 11% of the total workforce. Every extra $1 million spent in Florida’s restaurants generates an additional 25 jobs in the state. (Source: National Restaurant Association. Includes all restaurant and foodservice occupations. Employment figures are projected.)
It's easy to see why Florida is a great destination if you’re in the market to buy a restaurant.
How to Buy a Restaurant for Sale in Florida
Step 1: Find an Expert Florida Restaurant Broker
We Sell Restaurants has a Certified Restaurant Broker© on the ground in Florida to assist you in buying a restaurant for sale in Florida. Choose from our dozens of Florida restaurants and bars for sale. Our restaurant brokers are connected to the local market and know what's available. We can provide you access to everything you need to support you in the purchase of a restaurant. Browse our listings to find Florida franchise restaurants for sale or independent restaurants ranging from cafes to coffee shops.
We Sell Restaurants brokers go through the extensive training, education and specialized experience to become Certified Restaurant Brokers©. We are the nation’s most experienced source for buying or selling a restaurant.
Step 2: Get Your Financial House In Order
Our Florida restaurants or bars for sale listings are not public knowledge. The seller will want to know that you have signed a confidentiality agreement and have the funds available before we can give you full details on the listing. Even if you only want to lease a Florida restaurant, expect the landlord to evaluate your financial position and prequalify you before a showing takes place. We can provide you with a personal statement for if you need help in this process.
Pull your most recent credit report and check your FICO score before you submit information to a landlord for approval on a Florida restaurant for lease. You wouldn't go shopping for a home until you checked your financial position, and the same is true for buying a Florida restaurant.
Step 3: Financing Florida Restaurants for Sale
Our Certified Restaurant Brokers© have built a network of bankers, lenders, web resources and national contacts for financing a restaurant for sale. Speak to the expert restaurant brokers in Florida to find out more about these opportunities:
SBA (Small Business Administration) Loans on Florida Restaurants for Sale
Only our Certified Restaurant Brokers© work directly with SBA lenders to submit their restaurants for lending. Our Florida restaurants for sale go direct to our SBA lenders in a pre-approval process. Once an SBA lender has given the deal an initial "thumbs-up", buyers submit their paperwork for approval. When both parties qualify, we move to closing with SBA lending.
Buying a Florida Restaurant with a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Equity in your home is one way to finance the purchase of your Florida Restaurant or Bar of Sale. A restaurant without a long history, being sold for assets or without cash flow is a candidate for this funding since traditional bank loans won’t work.
401K Fund Conversion for Buying a Florida Restaurant
Guidant Financial is a leader in tax free 401K conversions. Ask your Florida Certified Restaurant Broker© about this speedy and simple way to convert your stock market position into funding for your restaurant without any tax implications. Get information on this process for converting 401K to funds to buy a Florida restaurant or bar for sale by clicking this link.
Financing with Friends and Family – Ask a Crowd for Help
Friends and family have always been a source of funding when buying a restaurant. Now “crowdfunding” offers more option. This new way to raise money (on websites like www.Foodiecrowd.com) expands to the Internet where you ask investors to buy shares in your restaurant.
Online Financing for Buying a Florida Restaurant
Online lenders are gaining in popularity. One of these is found online at www.boefly.com. They match deals between restaurant buyers that want a loan and lenders that are looking to fund. This grows the pool of lenders so you’re not limited to Florida bankers.
Start Up Loans When Buying a Florida Restaurant or Bar
Micro-loans – amounts of $25,000 are available on www.prosper.com Go online and get investors interested in lending on your restaurant project. These mini venture capitalists choose projects to fund after reviewing requests online. You make monthly payments and investors receive a portion of those payments directly to their Prosper account. If you need less than $25,000 it might be worth a try.
Visit www.accionusa.org for another start up loan source when your needs are under $50,000. Developed to assist small business owners that’s can’t go the traditional bank route due to the type of business, insufficient credit history or a short business history. They will fund from $500 to $50,000 with a good credit score. Visit them online for more info.
Step 4: Resources for Buying a Florida Restaurant
Buying a Florida Restaurant for Sale is a team sport and you may need all kinds of help. Our Florida Certified Restaurant Broker© has plenty of resources and aid for you. Here’s a starting point for the most common requests:
Florida Restaurant for Rents
Yes, we can help in a search for a Florida restaurant for lease. Our Florida Certified Restaurant Broker© will work with you to identify your needs and locate a lease property. Our restaurant brokers are experienced bring together a full package for the landlord. Ask us for help in renting something with equipment or vacant space. We will coach you in preparing a package to include:
- Restaurant Lease Application
- Restaurant Business Plan and Pro Forma
- Personal Financial Statement
- Restaurant Experience Resume on Key Individuals
- Letter of Intent
Restaurant Broker Fees for Buying a Florida Restaurant or Bar for Sale
The seller or landlord pays a commission which almost always covers the cost of any representation. It is quite rare for a buyer to face any costs at all. Contact your Florida Certified Restaurant Broker© for more information.
Buying Other Broker’s Florida Restaurants for Sale
We Sell Restaurants can represent you as a Buyer’s Agent for any Florida restaurant or bar for sale whether or not we hold the listing. Get the expertise and knowledge of a Certified Restaurant Broker© on any Florida restaurant for sale listing. We are happy to assist.
E2 Visa Qualified Florida Restaurants for Sale
Ask your Florida Certified Restaurant Broker© for assistance with Florida restaurants for sale that will qualify for an E-2 visa. Florida is an excellent state for those from other countries interested in acquiring a restaurant as part of a visa requirement. Foreigners from certain treaty countries are allowed to make substantial investments in the United States in exchange for a visa. We have Florida restaurants for sale and relationships with strong immigration attorneys to help you invest in a restaurant and secure a visa for relocating to the United States.
(404) 593-4193
