Christchurch business opportunities upbeat

Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 2:25 pm
Press Release: nzbizbuysell

Christchurch business opportunities upbeat

As opportunities diversify from the rebuild to the city’s life-blood mainstream enterprises, those involved in buying and selling Canterbury-based businesses are witnessing continued healthy buoyancy, as economic confidence remains positive.

Richard O'Brien, director of the business for sale website nzbizbuysell says: "While some sectors can from time to time offer challenges, generally due to an unusual over supply and/or low demand, we continue to see strong enquiry for good business opportunities. Currently we have around 200 businesses for sale in Christchurch on www.nzbizbuysell.co.nz priced from $3,000 to $3m. These range from picture theatres to taverns, cafes and engineering businesses. Plenty of opportunities for those wishing to invest in a good Christchurch business opportunity."

Nzbizbuysell works with leading business brokers who have their finger directly on the business-trading pulse, such as Damien Fahey from Tabak Business Sales. Damien says they are still experiencing a strong demand for good businesses, especially from locals, that are not directly aligned with deconstruction or rebuild work. This includes the wider areas of Selwyn and Waimakariri.

“The sentiment around town is that it’s an exciting place to be part of. We have come through the turmoil, and are now making up the new rules. He says for example the vibrant cafe scene provides a great place to meet clients and do business.”

“Every year since February 2011 has been better than the one before - and I don’t see that changing. Owning your own business is not difficult; all that’s required is a good understanding of the systems, the clients’ needs, along with sound sales and management skills and some tenacity. It is often the best way to get ahead financially especially if it has a good cash flow and customer base. The sectors we deal in that are doing particularly well are import and distribution, import and direct sales, trades services, niche retail, manufacturing, engineering and fabrication.” He says buying an existing business cuts down lengthy set-up time and therefore provides immediate cash-flow.

With tourism still New Zealand’s biggest earner, Christchurch has not been forgotten, gaining international curiosity for the future of architecture and town planning. As a gateway to the South Island, investing in the city’s tourism sector is a venture with real future possibilities.

Kelvin Coffey of Tourism Property Brokers emphasises that buying existing tourist accommodation can be a lucrative move, as higher building costs, now faced by developers for new accommodation ventures, do not have to be factored in the return on room rates.

Figures show that motels, hotels and holiday parks all had an increase in occupancy in the year ending August 2016, with just over a 6% increase in bed nights. Hotels enjoyed a 77% occupancy over the year. This can only increase with the projected burgeoning of bith tourist numbers and migration.

Buying and investing in the excitement of an evolving city makes practical sense, not to mention the independent lifestyle and financial returns to be gained.

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