business for sale

Unique, Award Winning Commercial Cleaning and Gum Removal Specialists Including Valuable Intellectua

Businesses for Sale

Sale Memorandum

Unique, Award Winning Commercial Cleaning and Gum Removal Specialists

Including Valuable Intellectual Property


Ref.GC030

Location Essex

Asking Price £4,400,000

Confidential offered for sale


Finance available to buy this business subject to status. All regulated business is passed to independent financial advisors who are regulated by the FSA
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Asking price includes:

A trusted and respected reputation in the industry
Substantial number of valuable maintenance contracts
Company Health & Safety/Compliance policy
Huge opportunities and expansion capabilities
Qualified and highly skilled workforce
Substantial blue-chip client base
Sustained and steady growth
Fully re-locatable operations
Licenses & accreditations
Expertly equipped
Goodwill

Business profile:

Established in 1994 this independent specialist commercial cleaning and gum removal business is well renowned and has traded successfully building an enviable reputation for its services over 12 busy years of trading. The Company specialises in providing professional cleaning services to clients such as large property developments, civic authorities, schools and councils, providing services relating to all aspects of chewing gum removal and graffiti. Great attention to detail is always given to the specific needs of every project.

Established for 12 years the business enjoys competition and sustains itself well with its high added value service and competitive pricing. With such a comprehensive range of services on offer, enormous bartering powers and unique access to its proprietary steam cleaning technology the business has an enviable success record on gaining contracts that are often far superior and highly desirable to competitors.

The current list of services includes:

•Chewing Gum and Combined Street Washing
•Hot Water and Street Washing
•Graffiti Removal – Anti Graffiti Coating
•Street Furniture and Litter Bin Cleaning
•Car Park Cleaning – Single or Multi Storey
•Highway Sign Cleaning
•Stairwell – Public Access Cleaning
•Public Convenience Deep Cleaning
•Bin Storage Area Cleaning
•Refuse Chute Cleaning
•Fly Poster Removal –Anti Fly Poster Removal
•Subway Underpass Cleaning
•Bus Shelter Cleaning
•Removal of Paint and Oil Spills
•Glazed Canopy Cleaning
•Structural Steelwork and Building Cladding
•High Level Access Cleaning
•Building Exterior Steam Cleaning
•Wheelie Bin Cleaning

This business’ unique technology based approach, plus considerable management expertise has earned the business an excellent name. It provides full project and commercial cleaning services principally to quality blue chip, commercial and institutional clients on a project by project, contract and repeat basis. The extensive client list reflects the business’ main focus; to provide such solutions for organisations that want a finished product to reflect their commitment to public areas and buildings of high integrity.
The business currently works with over 50 clients across a wide and diverse number of industries and understands what is involved in the fulfilment of cleaning projects for such clients and aims to exceed expectations.

This business has the specialist equipment and skills to translate client’s requirements into robust positive gum removal and cleaning solutions, operating outside commercial working hours, minimising the impact on local business and pedestrian movement. The standard of the service is always the ultimate, to ensure maximum possible benefit for the customer, community and the environment at large.

Projects are secured through referral and negotiation and or competitive tender. The business has a stable of reliable & highly professional cleaning personnel and the aim is to build on the reputation of providing a high quality product within budget and to deadline in order to service a precise and exacting market.
The environmental problem

It is estimated that there are more than 26 million frequent purchasers of chewing gum in the UK consuming up to 2 billion packs a year. Many consumers dispose of their gum responsibly but where it is dropped it sticks firmly as it dries and does not break down or degrade over time and accumulates.

The government now believes that these deposits compromise the quality of open public spaces and now considers it as litter.

Defra has proposed to amend legislation reclassifying chewing gum deposits as litter, the consequence of which is that like other litter issues, councils and local authorities have a legal duty to clear litter from open spaces.

The technology

The business has developed its own highly successful and fully protected steam cleaning unit that does not so much lift and remove chewing gum from pavements and walkways as destroy it and break it down such that it does not have to be flushed or collected since it no longer exists.

The business uses a diesel powered mobile steam cleaning unit which it has developed over many years and great expense finally producing what is considered to be the perfect machine, which is capable of producing a working pressure of 4,000psi but operates typically between 1,500 and 2,000psi and a working temperature between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius.

This means that this business’ cleaning system operates at half the pressure of many competitors thus ensuring that these specialist machines produce maximum quality while ensuring that pavement grouting and sand beddings are not damaged.

This makes the system uniquely able to effectively and efficiently clean sensitive areas such as listed buildings and properties with little or no damage sustained to the material.

The business’ productivity is therefore first class cleaning, revitalising and restoring an average of 1,000 square metres per night.


Quality Assurance:

The business operates to its own quality management system in full accordance with its BS EN ISO 9001:200 accreditation ensuring that the business’ own standards are maintained and objectives achieved.

The main objective is to provide all clients with an end product of the highest standard. The business has developed its own quality system, which provides clients with the assurance that all services supplied will meet consistently high standards. Sites are supported from the head office, which is responsible for the administration of projects.
Health and Safety:

The business ensures the health and safety of its employees and the general public with specialist safety equipment and cordoned off areas to protect the public.

Key Strengths:

The business is a main contractor for many major civic and professional organisations with business sourced through direct recommendation from clients, specifiers or consultants. It is well placed to meet the growing demand for ecologically sound and managed projects. The company is quite diverse in the range of services provided and pride themselves on their commitment to projects and their ability to adapt to suit the customer’s exact needs.

A well-respected business it operates in both the public and commercial sector. The company has an excellent reputation for project management, fast response, attention to detail, customer care, end user focus and integrated approach. Significant repeat business is obtained from a loyal and satisfied client base and is continually growing. This well-respected Company focuses on quality workmanship and value for money supported by a full guarantee on all work undertaken and can vouch for zero recalls on projects in 12 years of trading.

Growth and Expansion:

This specialist business maintains an extensive base of satisfied clientele who appreciate superior service together with a widespread reputation. The key to maintaining the high degree of customer loyalty is the strong service orientation.

The business has undertaken limited marketing and a high percentage of recommendations are by word of mouth. More assertive marketing and promotion within the appropriate market sectors could acquire an even larger slice of the market and further increase the turnover.

Growth is set to continue with demand outstripping supply; the business is well positioned for Housing Associations and other public and commercial projects. A new owner will contribute innovative ideas and outside influence to build on this excellent base.

The technology has an application that extends to every part of the UK to Europe. There are no known comparative products in the EU and there is one known in the USA. It is possible with suitable resources to introduce the product and service to every civic authority and pedestrian area of high integrity anywhere in the world.
Premises:

The company operate from very smart first floor premises in an easily accessible part of Essex on a main road location. The business occupies one floor of this purpose built commercial property with four offices and occupies approximately 1,000 sq ft. The building is secure with two parking spaces available.

The property is leased on a flexible basis and rent of £4,000 is paid per annum.

The premises add a significantly improved dimension to the day-to-day operations of this business. They are well appointed and impart exactly the same high professional qualities for which this business has become known.

Vehicles and equipment are kept and maintained from 2 further depots each on flexible terms, with full security including CCTV.
Financial profile:
The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.

The current turnover is circa £1,300,000 per annum with net profits of circa £180,000 and has forecast near term increases in turnover to approximately £4.5 M.
Employees:

This professional very effective and efficient business operates with a fully functional team of 15 full time employees. The Managing Director is responsible for the administration and is supported by a loyal and hard working team of street-washers, mechanics, marketing staff, administrative personnel and quality standards manager.
Support and Training:

The vendor is happy to provide a training period for a length of time to be negotiated prior to the sale.
Reason for Sale:

Our client is re-locating and intends to focus on other business and leisure interests.

The vendor feels that he has taken the business as far as is possible under current management and believe the technology particularly requires considerable long term planning and investment to achieve its full potential.
Turner Butler Disclosure Statement:

This statement applies to information relating to any company or other undertaking or business advertised for sale by Turner Butler (a 'Business')

The information supplied by Turner Butler on its website or in any other promotional material ('the Information') is not and is not intended to constitute an offer for sale of the Business or any assets of the Business or of the shares of any company which owns the Business.

For the avoidance of doubt there is no intention to create a legal relationship which will only come into existence when a written contract for sale and purchase of the shares in or the Business has been entered into

The Information provided is not intended to address your particular requirements. Further the Information does not constitute any form of advice recommendation representation endorsement or arrangement by Turner Butler and is not intended to be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) any specific decisions.

Any agreements transactions or other arrangements made between you and any client of Turner Butler are at your sole risk and responsibility. The prospective sellers of the Business have provided the Information to Turner Butler. The Information has not been verified by Turner Butler.

You must carry out your own due diligence and satisfy yourself as to the accuracy of all matters. In the case of the sale of shares in a Business the Information has been prepared on the basis that the shares will consist of or include more than 50% of the voting shares and that both the seller and the buyer is either a body corporate, a partnership, a single individual or a group of connected individuals so as to fall outside the scope of regulated activities as defined by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you are considering a transaction which falls within the scope of such regulated activities you cannot do so through Turner Butler.

Appropriate professional, legal and accountancy advice should be obtained before making or refraining to make any decision.

Turner Butler does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss or damage of any nature that may occur by reliance on the Information. Neither Turner Butler nor any of our employees or agents makes any representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the Information nor do we accept any liability for any losses, costs, liabilities or expenses which may arise directly or indirectly from your use of, or reliance on the Information.

This document is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English Law and any dispute arising in connection with it shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts

Turner & Co (GB) Limited registered in England and Wales under company no. 2477988 of registered office Savoy House Savoy Circus London W3 7DA, trading as Turner Butler © Shaun Sweeney October 2006

Next steps

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