Chatime stores for sale
Established Chatime stores come up for sale when a franchisee moves on. Buying one means taking over a business that is already trading, with a team, a customer base and a lease in place. Every sale needs Chatime's approval before the store changes hands.
See what is for sale now
Current resales are listed with the rest of Chatime's opportunities and updated as stores come to market. View the Chatime stores currently for sale, filtered to resales only.
What changes when you buy a store that is already trading
Neither route is better in general. They suit different buyers, and the difference is mostly about what you are able to check before you commit.
| Buying a resale | Opening a new site | |
|---|---|---|
| Trading from | Day one of ownership | Opening day, once the fit-out is complete |
| Team | Existing staff, subject to what you agree with the seller | Recruited and trained from scratch |
| Customers | An established customer base | Built from launch |
| Fit-out | Already built; check its age and condition | New, to current Chatime standards |
| Lease | Taken over from the seller, subject to the landlord | Negotiated for your site |
| What you can review | A store you can visit and watch trading | Nothing trading yet to observe |
| Pricing | Set per store and shown on each listing | From $300,000 + GST |
Why buy an established store
The appeal is certainty. The trade-off is that you take on decisions someone else already made.
What you gain
A business that trades from the day you take it over, real figures to assess instead of estimates, a team that already knows the store, and a location with a track record.
What you inherit
The lease and its terms, the time left on the franchise agreement, a fit-out of a certain age, and the existing staff arrangements. None of these are problems in themselves. They are things to price in.
What to check before you buy an existing store
A trading store gives you something a new site cannot: real evidence. Use it.
How the store is actually trading
Ask the current owner how the store is going, then go and see for yourself. Visit at the busy times, after school, over lunch and through the school holidays, and watch how it runs. You will spot the pain points and the strengths faster standing in the store than you will on paper.
The lease
How long is left, what the rent is, when it is reviewed, and whether the landlord will consent to the lease being assigned to you. A strong store on a short lease is a different proposition.
Your franchise term starts fresh
You do not take on what is left of the seller’s agreement. As the incoming franchisee you enter a new franchise term of your own, so ask what that term is and what applies at the end of it.
The fit-out, and any refurbishment coming
Ask when the store was last refurbished and whether any significant capital expenditure is due. That cost lands on whoever owns the store when it falls due.
The team
Who is staying, on what terms, and who runs the store day to day now. A settled team is part of what you are buying.
Why the owner is selling
Ask directly. Retirement, relocation and a move into other stores are common and straightforward reasons. Either way, the answer should be consistent with the numbers.
How buying an existing Chatime store works
A resale is a sale between you and the current owner, with Chatime's approval required before it completes.
Browse the stores for sale
Current resales are listed on the available locations page, updated as stores come to market.
Enquire about a store
Register your interest in a specific store. Chatime will talk you through what is involved and whether it suits what you are looking for.
Do your due diligence
Visit the store at its busy times, review the lease and the fit-out, and go through the disclosure document with an accountant and a franchise lawyer alongside you.
Agree terms with the seller
Price, what is included and the handover date are agreed between you and the current owner.
Chatime considers the transfer
The seller asks Chatime to consent to the sale. Under the Franchising Code of Conduct, Chatime must respond within 42 days of the request, or of receiving any further information it asks for, and can only refuse on reasonable grounds, such as a buyer who does not meet its selection criteria.
Sign, with a cooling-off period
The Code gives the buyer of an existing franchise a cooling-off period, set out separately from the one that applies to new franchise agreements. Your lawyer will confirm exactly when it starts and how long it runs.
Training and handover
Chatime's franchisee training runs 5 days online, then 6 days in-store at a Sydney franchise alongside a current franchise partner. Confirm with Chatime how it applies when you are taking over a trading store.
Buying an existing Chatime store: your questions
Can I buy an existing Chatime store?
Yes. Established Chatime stores are sold as resales when a franchisee moves on. They are listed alongside new sites on Chatime's available locations page, where you can filter to resales only. Every sale requires Chatime's approval before it completes.
How is buying a Chatime resale different from opening a new store?
A resale is already trading, with a team, customers, a fit-out and a lease in place, so you can visit it and see how it trades before you buy. A new site starts from launch, with a new fit-out and a lease negotiated for your location, but no trading history to assess.
How much does an existing Chatime store cost?
Each store is priced individually, and the listing shows either a price or price on application. The right price for a trading store depends on how it is trading, its lease and the condition of its fit-out, which is why due diligence matters. A new Chatime site starts from $300,000 + GST.
Does Chatime have to approve the sale of a store?
Yes. Under the Franchising Code of Conduct, a franchisee must seek the franchisor's consent to transfer the franchise. Chatime must respond within 42 days of the request, or of receiving any further information it asks for, and can only refuse on reasonable grounds, such as a buyer who does not meet its selection criteria.
Is there a cooling-off period when you buy an existing franchise?
Yes. The Franchising Code of Conduct gives the buyer of an existing franchise a cooling-off period, set out separately from the one for new franchise agreements. Have your lawyer confirm exactly when it starts and how long it runs before you sign.
Is there a deposit when buying a Chatime resale?
Chatime does not charge an application deposit to be considered as a franchisee. Buying an existing store is a sale between you and its current owner, so any deposit is a matter between you and the seller. Have your lawyer confirm how it is held and when it is refundable before you pay anything.
How do I check how a store is really trading?
Ask the current owner how the store is going, then see it for yourself. Visit at the busy times, after school, over lunch and through the school holidays. Standing in the store during a rush tells you things no summary will. Chatime does not publish earnings figures, and no franchisor in Australia can lawfully guarantee what a store will earn, so bring your own eyes and your own accountant.
Do I need food and beverage experience to buy a Chatime store?
No. Chatime's training covers what you need. It runs 5 days online, then 6 days in-store at a Sydney franchise alongside a current franchise partner.
See the stores for sale now
Resales are listed as they come to market. Enquire about one, and Chatime will talk you through what is involved.
View Chatime stores for sale