Ernest Wilsons see strong demand for Sub Post Offices

The New Year has brought a flurry of requests from all over the country for assistance with the Sub Post Office application process which includes a Business Plan in the Post Office bespoke format and a presentation to be given at the Post Office interview. I have been inundated and it is very heartening to see such a strong start to 2013. I am planning a seminar "So you want to be a SubPostmaster, come and learn all about it" which will help answer all the questions that many have about the sector, the Company, the application process, finance etc - if you would be interested in attending email me and let me know!
Meanwhile we have fixed the 7th March 2013 as the date for our next and fourth seminar "Thinking about buying a business? - Learn How!". These have been ever so well received with excellent feedback and all have been fully subscribed. It will be in Leeds again and costs just £85 plus VAT for one and £160 plus VAT for a couple.Includes external professional speakers. Again email me if you would like details.

If you need assistance with buying a Sub Post Office or indeed with the raising of finance generally do not hesitate to telephone me on 0113 238 2900 or email me at martin.humberstone@ernest-wilson.co.uk

Sub Post Office Loan and Post Office Business Plan - all sorted!

Here at Ernest Wilsons we have been liaising with LloydsTSB’s Chesterfield Business Centre who I have to say have put together a very competitive offer of finance for a client purchasing a Sub Post Office. Interest Rate offered is 4.39% above base rate even though some of the £250,000 facility is unsecured and across 15 years. Great to see the local management team keen to lend and quick to put a workable deal together. Well done Lloyds.


A gentleman rang from London this week anxious that the Business Plan submitted to the Post Office had been rejected despite help from a financial advisor, putting his whole subpostmaster application in jeopardy ! I was glad to look at the plan and make the necessary amendments to ensure it conveyed the right information and it has been successfully resubmitted. The Post Office Business Plan is bespoke to the Post Office and not in the form of a traditional business plan, and whilst it takes some getting used to does provide the Post Office with an excellent financial overview of the viability of the application.

Should anyone require help with sourcing finance or help with the Sub Post Office application process do not hesitate to give me a ring at Ernest Wilsons on 0113 238 2900

Ernest Wilsons third Seminar. Raising finance and Sub Post Office application support.

Ernest Wilsons held its third seminar on the 28th November titled “Thinking about buying your own business? – Learn How”, which was another huge success with the room bulging with delegates. The agenda included an item on “Acquiring Finance for your business purchase” which I covered along with Wendy Hallas, Relationship Manager from Lloyds TSB’s Commercial Business Centre in Huddersfield. I think it opened a number of the delegates eyes as to what is possible and what is not in the current market place when it comes to raising finance to buy a business, with a few readjusting their purchase price parameters. Banks are lending money but they have to be approached with the right proposition, the right information and in the right way. This is what keeps me busy at Ernest Wilsons helping people day in and day out, without charge, to source finance to buy the business they have decided is for them – and I love it!


I have also been busy this week helping a number of individuals apply for the position of subpostmaster having agreed to buy a Sub Post Office from a client of Ernest Wilsons or indeed another Business Transfer Agent. The Sub Post Office application process involves the completion of a Post Office bespoke Business Plan amongst other things and also includes a subsequent interview with the Post Office wherein the applicant undertakes a powerpoint presentation. Having helped more people than I can care to remember through this process I am pleased to continue to be able to help many more as many finding it daunting, even though they clearly have all the skills to run a small business including a Sub Post Office. Indeed Ernest Wilsons “Buying a Sub Post Office Support Service” launched last year has really taken off with calls coming in from all over the country! It is always a regular highlight in the week when a delighted customer telephones me to say they have been appointed subpostmaster or subpostmistress – and this week I had two of these happy calls!