Owning A Seasonal Business: Pros & Cons

What about owning a small business that only operates at certain times of the year—say a tour boat line in Canada?

The Pros

1. During the off season the owner can work on business planning, marketing programs, operating systems and procedures, documentation, research and so on without the pressure of managing the day-to-day operations.
2. The off season provides time for rest, contemplation, leisure travel and activities, and to get re-acquainted with family and friends.
3. The off season provides time for meeting with industry peers, trade associations, suppliers, strategic partners, and for traveling to research potential business improvements.
4. The off season may allow the owner to escape unpleasant weather conditions.
5. Recruiting and training can be done in advance of the busy season when there is time to do it well.
6. Servicing and upgrades to systems and equipment can be done during the off season without time pressure.
7. Some people thrive on being the hare rather than the tortoise.

The Cons

1. Start up at the beginning of the season requires working capital in excess of what a non-seasonal business would require.
2. Start up requires a significant expenditure of energy is a short period of time.
3. The resources allocated to the business are only earning a return during part of the year.
4. A system or machinery breakdown during the busy season is more costly and thus the risk is higher.
5. It is more difficult to retain good employees in a seasonal business.
6. The level of activity in a seasonal business must be much higher during the season to offset the slow or down time and so may require long hours and greater endurance from the owner.
7. The level of stress dealing with a flurry of activity during the season can be higher.

In the end it is a personal choice based upon the owner’s values and what he or she enjoys.

How about you? Have you operated a seasonal business? What did you like best about it? What did you dislike?

New Opportunity: Passive Food Production Business On Vancouver Island

BCBusinessBrokers has an exciting, new business opportunity--“Passive Food Production Business” (VANISBC001-N135).

Traditionally grown in the purest of Japanese streams, authentic wasabi (Wasabia Japonica) has been notoriously difficult to grow in any other environment. Following decades of research and development, the patent pending proprietary process of growing semi-aquatic wasabi in a greenhouse environment has been perfected. With four sites successfully operating for six (6) years, the company is expanding its commercial production. Limited opportunities are now available on Vancouver Island. This is a passive business opportunity with strong expansion potential.  Full time site management will ensure that greenhouse construction and crops are monitored, managed and cared for. A Grower’s Unit includes a license to purchase wasabi plantlets; guaranteed sales; and three (3) fully-erected greenhouses (20,000 sq ft) ready for planting. Demand for high-grade wasabi greatly exceeds supply in the culinary market worldwide; fresh wasabi is sold out weekly. New orders cannot be filled. The limited supply has been further affected by elevated radiation levels in the wake of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and nuclear fallout. Merely replacing the culinary production lost in Japan represents an enormous market demand. Customer requests far exceed what this site can produce based on wholesale prices to culinary markets only. There is also an increasing demand for wasabi in the multi-billion dollar anti-aging and biomedical industries. Research validates compounds found in wasabi which are known to be effective in treating stomach cancer, just one of wasabi’s many applications and upsides. Being involved in commercial wasabi production on Vancouver Island is a sound and lucrative business opportunity. With only one commercial wasabi operation in North America and an unpenetrated global demand, this is the ideal time to secure your position as a Grower.

For more information on this business or to learn about other opportunities, contact Michael Naprawa at 250-751-7917 or visit our website at www.bcbusinessbroker.ca.

What is Sunbelt?

Company Overview

Sunbelt is the largest business brokerage firm in the world, making it the dominant force in the industry. Since 1978, the Company has evolved into a business brokerage network including 300 offices throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries. We currently broker the sale of approximately 4,000 businesses each year.

Our 1,400 business brokerage professionals are dedicated to providing our buyers and sellers with superior service throughout the entire buying or selling process. Sunbelt's experienced methods make the transition smooth and uncomplicated.

Sunbelt business brokerage offices can help those buying or selling a business in any of the four areas of the private business market:


Main Street Businesses

General businesses that usually have gross sales of $1,000,000 or less per year and have 20 or fewer employees (95% of US businesses fall into this category).
Franchise Sales Sunbelt is pleased to be the business brokerage firm that represents a select group of franchisors with a proven track record of success in their field. When you buy a franchise, you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. These franchisors have proven business systems and known names in their respective markets.


Franchise Resales
Thousands of existing franchise businesses resell every year, often for "human driven" reasons: the owner retires, dies, is in poor health, is getting a divorce, is relocating or experiences other life-changing circumstances। We, as a business brokerage, always want to know why someone is selling a business, and so do you. Depending on the circumstances, the sale of an existing franchise may present a good business opportunity for the buyer. An existing franchise has the advantage of being an existing business plus the ongoing support provided by the franchisor. Those looking to buy a franchise can benefit from the professional assistance provided at Sunbelt.

Middle Market

Sunbelt is a market leader in managing middle market transactions in the range of $3,000,000 - $30,000,000.