Taking over a café in Málaga can provide a faster route into the market than starting from an empty unit. You may acquire an equipped venue, an existing licence, a customer base and a recognised location. However, the asking price is only justified when the rights, assets and financial performance can be verified.
Assess the location throughout the year
Study pedestrian traffic by day and time, nearby offices, homes, hotels, schools and competing venues. A busy tourist street can perform very differently in winter, while a residential neighbourhood may offer steadier year-round trade. Terrace visibility, shade, access and delivery arrangements also affect the operation.
Review the lease before valuing the traspaso
Check the monthly rent, deposit, indexation, remaining term, renewal options and whether the landlord must approve the transfer. Confirm that the premises and terrace described in the contract match what is actually used. A profitable café with a short or uncertain lease deserves a different valuation from one with long-term security.
Confirm licences and permitted use
Verify the activity licence, opening hours, terrace permission, capacity, accessibility, extraction and food-preparation rights. Do not assume that the current concept or all equipment is automatically compliant. Ask a qualified local adviser to confirm the position with the relevant authority.
Test the commercial claims
Compare sales reports with tax filings, bank receipts, till data, supplier purchases and staffing. Calculate gross margin and sustainable profit after market-rate management costs. Unrecorded cash turnover may explain the seller’s story, but without reliable evidence it should not support the same valuation as documented income.
Agree a complete handover
Prepare a signed inventory of furniture, kitchen equipment, stock, deposits, domains, telephone numbers and social-media accounts. Record training, introductions to suppliers and the date on which risk and trading responsibility transfer. The final agreement should also state which debts and employee obligations remain with each party.
- Visit the area at different times and in different seasons.
- Make landlord approval a condition of the transaction.
- Verify licences before paying a non-refundable amount.
- Value the business on sustainable, documented earnings.
- Attach a detailed inventory and handover schedule to the agreement.
