Off Licenses & Convenience Stores

Owning a corner shop or newsagents can be a rewarding business venture for a number of reasons, including:

- You will run an essential community hub, playing your part to support the lives of local people

- You can usually expect a consistent demand for staple goods, drinks, snacks and more

- You have opportunities for growth by adding additional services, such as lottery tickets and scratch cards, newspapers and magazines, and cash withdrawals

- You can expect your business to be fairly resilient during economic hardship as people will continue to need the products you stock

“Buying an established off-licence or convenience store can be a fantastic investment. These essential community hubs often deliver consistent demand and reliable returns, representing a solid opportunity for aspiring business owners in the UK.”

While most convenience businesses serve a similar purpose, there are some nuances to consider before you complete the purchase:

- Convenience store – Offer a broad range of services, from selling food and household items to helping you send parcels

- Off-licence – Primarily focused on alcohol sales for off-premises consumption. May also stock other food or tobacco products

- Corner shop – A convenience store that’s usually on the smaller scale

- Newsagents – Traditionally focused on selling papers and magazines, but now may offer lottery sales, stock grocery items and sell tobacco products

There’s naturally crossover between the four terms, but choosing the right business type can make a huge difference to your operations. Ensure you select the one that aligns most closely with your goals to increase your chances of success.

Buying a convenience store is relatively straightforward when you use our services. A typical purchase process could look like this:

- Search for a suitable business

- Request more information and visit the premises to ensure it aligns with your goals

- Do your due diligence checks to understand the business’s financials, properties and legal concerns

- Negotiate the price and payment terms

- Work with your lawyer to finalise legal documents

- Complete the sale by sending funds

You may need to re-register the business once you acquire it. We will be happy to help with this if you need assistance.

We believe we’re well-placed to support your convenience store purchase plans. Our services come highly rated, we’ve sold more than 40,000 businesses in the past and have a friendly team to assist you.

For added peace of mind, you won’t pay any fees until the sale is completed, and we can also help finance your purchase if you require additional funding.

Become a convenience store owner today when you buy one of our companies for sale. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need support along the way.

Want to sell your convenience store? Whether you’re retiring or relocating, selling your business with us is easy. Please arrange a valuation to start the process.

Is owning a convenience store profitable in the UK?

Owning a convenience store in the UK can be a profitable venture. These shops tend to have demand all year round, and there are plenty of ways to diversify your income stream. However, good store management, customer-friendly staff and competitive prices will be essential to make this happen.

What licences do I need to open a convenience store in the UK?

You will need various licences depending on the services you offer and the products you sell. This could include:

- Premises licence

- Food business registration

- Alcohol premises licence

- Economic Operator Identifier Code and Facility Identifier Code (to sell tobacco goods)

- Music licence

What skills do I need to run a newsagents and off-licence?

You will need a mixture of interpersonal and operational skills to run a convenience store. This means you should be good at:

- Customer service

- Inventory management

- Basic accounting and finance

- Legal compliance

- Marketing

- Time management

- Security awareness