What Not To Do When Buying A Pharmacy?

What Not To Do When Buying A Pharmacy?
3 min read

Knowing what to avoid when you buy pharmacy can help you feel confident in getting the best deal on the best terms, allowing you to be the best pharmacist possible. Pharmacists often experience excitement and fear before the settlement date, especially during the contract negotiation stage. However, it doesn't have to be emotionally charged. Over the years, buyers have made various mistakes when purchasing a pharmacy, which are as follows:

  • Making your negotiations for the offer

The pharmacy market is competitive, and pharmacists often negotiate offers themselves or in collaboration with the seller's broker. However, this approach can lead to overlooking important conditions or considerations, such as limited time for employee interviews or missing key details. The broker works for the seller, not the buyer, and is not a member of the buyer's "inner circle." 

The offer to purchase a document is rarely legally binding, but it is crucial to complete it correctly. By allowing advisors to join the "inner circle" early, they can ensure that the offer includes all necessary details and timeframes, allowing pharmacists to become the pharmacy's owner sooner rather than later. This will ensure that the offer includes all necessary details and timeframes for the purchase.

  • Utilising an existing or DIY structure

Choosing the right ownership structure is crucial for various reasons, including liability, asset protection, and tax benefits. Buyers can either use an existing company or build their own structures, which can carry risks and additional costs. Using an existing structure can blur the lines between a new business and an existing or historical one, leading to liability issues and a lack of protection for the owner. 

Pharmacists who establish their structures without understanding ownership legislation and financial and tax implications risk exposing themselves to regulatory issues and missing out on benefits. Incorrectly establishing structures may require asset restructuring, potentially attracting stamp duty. To avoid these risks, it is recommended to engage advisors early and have them set up the structure that is best for you, considering it an insurance policy against future issues.

  • Fixation on the date of settlement

Buying a pharmacy often requires flexible dates, including the settlement date, as they are contingent on landlord and regulatory approvals. Third parties, who are not bound by the contract's terms but play a crucial role in completing the contract, must be flexible. The timeframes specified in the contract do not bind third parties, leading to extensions of the settlement date while parties await responses from landlords or administration numbers. 

Fixating the settlement date may lead to disappointment as the date changes while parties wait for final details to fall into place. To resolve this issue, both parties should have an end date in mind but be willing to be flexible. It takes time and patience to achieve the desired outcome.

Summary

At MSI Taylor blog, we suggest that buyers should avoid common mistakes when buying a pharmacy, such as relying on pre-existing or DIY structures without understanding their legal and financial implications, negotiating offers without expert advice, and being fixated on the settlement date. Early advice and flexibility can help you buy Pharmacy in Australia without any obstacles.

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MSI Taylor is an Accounting firm in the heart of Toowong, Brisbane, that offers a large range of business services under one roof. From personal tax to complica...
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