Case Study: Buying the Freehold of a Convenience Store

Background

Our client had successfully operated a busy convenience store for several years, trading from a leased unit. When the landlord decided to sell the freehold, the client had a rare opportunity to secure long‑term control of the premises, protect the business, and build personal wealth through ownership.

But there were three major hurdles:

• Limited deposit – most of his capital was tied up in stock and day‑to‑day operations.
• Demand for the cheapest possible rate – margins in convenience retail are tight, so affordability mattered.
• Very limited time for paperwork – he was running the shop seven days a week and couldn’t get bogged down in admin.

Challenges We Had to Solve

• Low deposit meant many lenders wouldn’t entertain the deal or were pushing higher rates.
• Owner‑occupier commercial mortgages often require detailed trading accounts, projections, and supporting documents – not ideal for a client with no spare time
• Speed was essential because the landlord wanted a quick, clean sale.

Our Approach

• Targeted lender selection: We focused on lenders comfortable with higher LTV commercial owner‑occupier deals and who price competitively for strong trading businesses.
• Streamlined paperwork: We handled the heavy lifting – Financial analysis, packaging the application, gathering essential documents directly from the accountant, and pre‑empting lender questions to avoid delays.
• Negotiated terms: We positioned the client’s long trading history and stable turnover to secure a rate normally reserved for stronger‑deposit cases.

Outcome

• High‑LTV ( 75% ) commercial mortgage agreed in line with limited deposit available
• Market‑leading rate secured, keeping monthly payments low and protecting cash flow.
• Minimal paperwork for the client – we managed the process end‑to‑end so he could stay focused on running the store.
• Freehold successfully purchased, giving him long‑term security, increased business value, and a growing asset on his balance sheet.