Neighborhood grocery stores, bodegas and colmados are anchors of Hispanic communities. Margins are thin and volume is everything, so lenders focus on sales records and inventory turnover.

Common needs

• Buying an existing store from a retiring owner.
• Inventory, especially before holidays.
• Coolers, freezers, shelving, POS system, security cameras.
• Remodeling or expanding into a deli or hot food.
• Buying the building.

Options

What lenders want

1. POS reports showing daily sales by category.
2. Bank deposits that match reported sales. Cash-heavy stores must deposit and report everything.
3. Sales tax returns filed on time.
4. Lottery, money transfer and bill-pay commissions documented separately.
5. Licenses: food permit, tobacco and alcohol licenses where applicable, and whether they transfer to a buyer.
6. Lease with enough remaining term.

Buying an existing bodega

Ask the seller for three years of tax returns and POS data. If the seller says “it makes more than the taxes show”, the lender will only count what is reported. Price the deal on documented income.

Choose Retail stores in our lender finder to see who funds stores like yours.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy an existing bodega with an SBA loan?

Yes. A 7(a) loan can finance the purchase with at least 10% down from you.

What records do lenders want from a grocery store?

POS reports, bank deposits that match sales, sales tax returns and documented lottery or money-transfer commissions.

Will the lender count sales the seller didn't report?

No. Lenders count only documented income, so base the price on what the tax returns show.