Nursery World - Lock, stock and barrel

Buying an existing nursery can be a useful short cut to getting started in the daycare business, says Martin Pace. You get an immediate income stream and it may be easier to find the funds - but there can be drawbacks as well Buying a nursery is not always plain sailing. What looks initially like a willing vendor may, in fact, be someone who is simply testing the market, so your time and effort could well be wasted. The owner may have an unrealistic idea of the value of their business, or a smiling staff team may mask a poor reputation.

Buying a nursery is not always plain sailing. What looks initially like a willing vendor may, in fact, be someone who is simply testing the market, so your time and effort could well be wasted. The owner may have an unrealistic idea of the value of their business, or a smiling staff team may mask a poor reputation.

There are around 200 nurseries for sale in the UK at any one time, ranging in price from 30,000 for a rented church hall to 2m for a large, profitable freehold business. There are a number of agents who you can approach (see our directory 'Nuts and bolts' on page 25), many of whom have experience in childcare or associated sectors, such as healthcare. Most of the sales agents will provide a list with just enough detail to whet your appetite.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included