Coffee Shop finishing on walls and ceiling cladding

Seanie M

Hi there,

What are the requirements for ceiling finishes in a food prep/kitchen area? I am in the throes of looking into opening a coffee shop. I have my eye on two units. I can get a source for PVC wall coverings for the kitchen area as both units are at plasterboard level of finish. One unit has a suspended ceiling of ceiling tiles (looks like the compacted recycled paper type) and I am told that the landlord will simply paint over them - they do appear in good condition as they are, but the paint would be of benefit for brightning them up. But is this good enough when in food preparation?

I am also open to any other whimsical words of advice or ideas.

Thanks,

Seanie.

here2surf

I am not qualified to answer but it sounds like you are looking for a finish called whiterock
www.altro.ie
What level of food prep are you doing if you are a coffee shop? You may not need this spec of finish.

Seanie M

here2surf wrote: »

I am not qualified to answer but it sounds like you are looking for a finish called whiterock
www.altro.ie
What level of food prep are you doing if you are a coffee shop? You may not need this spec of finish.

Hi here2surf,
Food prep includes making our own sandwiches, paninis, wraps, waffles & crepes, certain cakes would be made in house, other treats and breads would be bought in, eggs, sausages and bacon cooked in house.

Seanie.

duploelabs

Hi Seanie.

Consult your local EHO as they'd have final say on any of this and their opinion can vary from region to region. Get it wrong and they won't let you open until you fix it

Seanie M

duploelabs wrote: »

Hi Seanie.

Consult your local EHO as they'd have final say on any of this and their opinion can vary from region to region. Get it wrong and they won't let you open until you fix it

Oh, I thought it would have been a standardised thing, but I will need to consult the HSE for safety and food standards anyway, I shall add this to my list.

bizzyb

It's best get your local EHO on board from the beginning to point you in the right direction, some are very supportive and some can be a pain in the a%@!

Seanie M

bizzyb wrote: »

It's best get your local EHO on board from the beginning to point you in the right direction, some are very supportive and some can be a pain in the a%@!

Thanks for the tip bizzyb, I am pursuing an avenue with them at the moment.

In the meantime, another unit popped up that is ready to go i.e. a business is up for sale, and it interests me greatly. My wife and I are crunching numbers and putting the business plan together. We have been given the accounts (trial balance etc.) for the last half if 2016 from when they started, and we have an accountant on board, going over the numbers for us. What extra tips would anyone have for going down thus route?

Seanie.

Bandara

Seanie M wrote: »

Thanks for the tip bizzyb, I am pursuing an avenue with them at the moment.

In the meantime, another unit popped up that is ready to go i.e. a business is up for sale, and it interests me greatly. My wife and I are crunching numbers and putting the business plan together. We have been given the accounts (trial balance etc.) for the last half if 2016 from when they started, and we have an accountant on board, going over the numbers for us. What extra tips would anyone have for going down thus route?

Seanie.

Someone started in mid 2016 and are now selling? (am I reading that correctly ?)

Are they audited accounts you have been given ? Have you verified them directly with the account who prepared them. How much of a loss are they showing ? What rent is showing as being paid ? How much of that rent was less rent free period ? Is your accountant a bog standard accountant or a specialist in this industry ?

Walk away is the initial thought that absolutely screams out. But if you wish to answer the above some of us here have significant experience in this industry and can guide you if possible.

Seanie M

Thanks for the reply Bandara. They are not audited accounts, though we have asked for more concise bookkeeping work alright. I have to wait and see. All feedback to us has been the same: seek an audited set of accounts.

Seanie.

duploelabs

Seanie M wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Bandara. They are not audited accounts, though we have asked for more concise bookkeeping work alright. I have to wait and see. All feedback to us has been the same: seek an audited set of accounts.

Seanie.

Am I right in saying that they wouldn't have to have audited accounts for 2016 yet? And is there no accounts for 2015?
Something don't smell right

Bandara

duploelabs wrote: »

Am I right in saying that they wouldn't have to have audited accounts for 2016 yet? And is there no accounts for 2015?
Something don't smell right

yeah it stinks tbh.

Seanie even a solo check of the company name will let you know when they are supposed to have filed accounts

To put it simply they are blatently being evasive and most likely lying to you / selling you a pup.

If someone is trying to sell you something (in this instance a business) they are going to provide you with everything possible to get you to buy it. By the fact they are not automatically providing accounts (once you have shown yourself to be a serious potential buyer) etc you can assume the worst.

duploelabs

Bandara wrote: »

yeah it stinks tbh.

Seanie even a solo check of the company name will let you know when they are supposed to have filed accounts

To put it simply they are blatently being evasive and most likely lying to you / selling you a pup.

If someone is trying to sell you something (in this instance a business) they are going to provide you with everything possible to get you to buy it. By the fact they are not automatically providing accounts (once you have shown yourself to be a serious potential buyer) etc you can assume the worst.

Only if they're a ltd company right? Could the vendor be a soletrader?

antoinolachtnai

Why would such a small company have audited accounts? There is no statutory requirement to have audited accounts.

I just wouldn't rely too much on audited accounts, certainly not unless the auditors will extend their opinion to you (and they won't).

The VAT returns might be worth looking at but I doubt you'll get to see those. If it is mainly a coffee place, the milk bill and the coffee bill will tell a tale.

You might be better off just to count up the comings-and-goings at the restaurant, look at the menu and count up what the turnover and GP are like.

duploelabs

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Why would such a small company have audited accounts? There is no statutory requirement to have audited accounts.

I just wouldn't rely too much on audited accounts, certainly not unless the auditors will extend their opinion to you (and they won't).

The VAT returns might be worth looking at but I doubt you'll get to see those. If it is mainly a coffee place, the milk bill and the coffee bill will tell a tale.

You might be better off just to count up the comings-and-goings at the restaurant, look at the menu and count up what the turnover and GP are like.

A ltd company has to have audited accounts regardless of size or turnover, a sole trader doesn't

antoinolachtnai

No it doesn't.

https://www.cro.ie/Annual-Return/Financial-Statements-Requirements/Audit-Exemption