Restaurant Brokers in Atlanta: How They Help You Buy or Sell International Cuisine Restaurants

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a restaurant in Atlanta, especially one focused on international cuisine—Korean BBQ on Buford Highway, a taqueria on the Westside, or a Mediterranean café in Midtown—working with a restaurant broker can make the process far easier and less risky.

This guide explains what restaurant brokers do in Atlanta, how they fit into the city’s international dining scene, and what you should know before hiring one.

What Is a Restaurant Broker?

A restaurant broker is a licensed real estate professional who specializes in buying, selling, and leasing restaurant businesses and restaurant properties.

In Atlanta, many of these brokers focus heavily on:

• Turnkey restaurants (ready-to-operate spaces)
• Second-generation spaces (previously used as restaurants, already built out)
• International cuisine concepts (Latin, Asian, African, Mediterranean, and more)
• High-traffic areas like Midtown, Buckhead, Downtown, West Midtown, and Buford Highway

They combine business brokerage (selling a company) with commercial real estate expertise (selling or leasing the space itself).

What Atlanta Restaurant Brokers Actually Do

1. Help You Buy a Restaurant

If you’re a buyer looking for an international restaurant in Atlanta, a broker can:

• Identify suitable listings

  • Established sushi bars, ramen shops, or izakayas near Midtown/Buckhead
  • Mexican or Central American restaurants in areas like Doraville or Chamblee
  • African or Caribbean spots in Southwest Atlanta or Clarkston
  • Mediterranean cafés around Emory, Decatur, and Virginia-Highland

• Evaluate the business

  • Review financials, equipment lists, and lease terms
  • Help you understand sales patterns, operating costs, and potential constraints

• Negotiate price and terms

  • Purchase price for the business
  • Terms on fixtures, furniture, and equipment (FF&E)
  • Transfer of licenses and permits where allowed

• Guide you through due diligence

  • Lease assignment / new lease approval by the landlord
  • Health, fire, and building code considerations
  • Understanding how zoning and alcohol regulations apply to your concept

2. Help You Sell Your Restaurant

If you own an international restaurant in Atlanta and want to sell:

• Business valuation
  Brokers commonly help estimate an asking price based on:

  • Gross and net income
  • Location (for example, Edgewood Avenue vs. a neighborhood strip mall)
  • Condition and age of build-out and equipment
  • Lease terms and remaining options

• Marketing the business

  • Creating a confidential listing
  • Reaching qualified buyers (including local and out-of-state operators seeking to enter Atlanta’s market)
  • Handling inquiries while keeping staff and customers unaware until appropriate

• Structuring the deal

  • Asset sale (most common for small and mid-sized restaurants)
  • Handling inventory, security deposits, and assignment of vendor contracts where possible

• Coordinating closing

  • Working with attorneys, accountants, and landlords
  • Helping both parties track the steps needed for a clean handoff

3. Lease and Site Selection Assistance

Some restaurant brokers in Atlanta also help with:

• Finding new locations for an international concept expanding into Atlanta
• Renegotiating leases with landlords to extend terms or adjust rent
• Advising on where specific cuisines perform well, based on local patterns
  • For example, Buford Highway for pan-Asian and Latin concepts
  • West Midtown for chef-driven global fusion and upscale dining
  • Downtown and Midtown for high-lunch-traffic concepts
  • Decatur for neighborhood-focused, globally inspired eateries

Why Use a Restaurant Broker in Atlanta’s International Cuisine Scene?

Atlanta’s food landscape is both dynamic and competitive. Working with a broker who knows the market can offer several advantages.

Local Market Knowledge

An Atlanta-based broker typically understands:

• Which areas are strong for late-night international dining (e.g., parts of Buford Highway)
• Where office-heavy demand supports consistent weekday lunch
• Which neighborhoods are becoming known for specific cuisines
• How traffic patterns, MARTA access, and parking impact certain restaurant types

Regulatory and Licensing Familiarity

Opening or taking over an international restaurant often involves:

• City of Atlanta business license
• Fulton County or DeKalb County health permits, depending on location
• An alcohol license (if serving beer, wine, or liquor)
• Potential sign permits or patio approvals

A restaurant broker is not a regulator, but many have practical experience helping clients:

• Budget enough time for city approvals
• Avoid deals where lease or zoning conflicts may block your intended use
• Plan for the steps required after closing

Key offices involved often include:

• City of Atlanta – Office of Revenue / Business Licensing
  55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Fulton County Board of Health (for many in-city locations)
  10 Park Place South SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• DeKalb County Board of Health (for areas like Chamblee, Doraville, Decatur)
  445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030

Brokers regularly interact with these processes and can help you anticipate them.

Time Savings and Confidentiality

For busy operators or out-of-town buyers, a broker can:

• Screen listings so you only tour serious options
• Pre-qualify buyers when you’re selling
• Maintain confidentiality so staff, landlords, or competitors don’t learn about a potential sale too early

How Restaurant Brokers Work in Atlanta: Fees, Contracts, and Roles

Who Pays the Broker?

In Atlanta, it’s common for:

• The seller to pay the broker’s commission in a business sale
• The landlord to pay the commission in a lease transaction
• Buyers rarely paying out-of-pocket broker fees in typical small-to-mid restaurant deals, but it can vary

Always confirm who is paying what before signing any agreement.

Commission Structure

Commission is usually:

• A percentage of the purchase price for a business sale
• A percentage of total lease value or a flat amount for lease deals

Exact percentages vary, and brokers should disclose their fee structure in writing.

Listing Agreements

If you’re a seller, you’ll often sign a listing agreement, which:

• Grants the broker the right to market your restaurant
• Sets the asking price and commission
• Defines whether the agreement is exclusive (only that broker can sell your restaurant during the term)

Read this carefully, and consider consulting an attorney before signing.

Dual Agency and Representation

Some brokers may:

• Represent only the seller
• Act as a transaction broker or dual agent, assisting both sides without fully advocating for one

In Georgia, agency relationships are regulated, and brokers must:

• Disclose whom they represent
• Obtain your written consent if acting in a dual or limited role

If you’re unsure, ask directly:
“Are you representing me, the other party, or both in this transaction?”

Buying an International Restaurant in Atlanta: Step-by-Step

Here’s how the process often looks for buyers in Atlanta.

1. Clarify Your Concept and Budget

• Decide what type of international cuisine you want to operate
• Set a realistic budget for:
  • Purchase price
  • Initial working capital
  • Licensing, deposits, and any remodel

2. Connect With a Restaurant Broker

When you first speak with a broker:

• Explain your cuisine, service style, and preferred neighborhoods
• Share your budget range and experience level
• Ask what kinds of international restaurant listings they work with

3. Review Listings and Sign NDAs

For detailed financials and addresses, you may need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This protects the seller’s confidentiality.

You’ll typically receive:

• Financial summaries
• Basic lease information
• Equipment lists
• Photos and sometimes sample menus

4. Tour Shortlisted Properties

On tours, pay attention to:

• Kitchen layout and whether it fits your menu (woks, tandoor, grill, etc.)
• Ventilation, grease traps, and hood systems
• Storage space for imported or specialty ingredients
• Visibility, parking, and surrounding businesses

5. Make an Offer (LOI or Purchase Agreement)

Your broker can help draft:

• A Letter of Intent (LOI), outlining key terms
• Or a purchase and sale agreement, often prepared with an attorney

Key terms usually include:

• Price and payment structure
• Items included (FF&E, inventory)
• Target closing date
• Contingencies (financing, lease approval, due diligence)

6. Due Diligence

You and your advisors review:

• Financial statements and tax returns
• Health inspection history
• Existing vendor contracts and any outstanding obligations
• Lease documents and landlord requirements

Your broker usually coordinates document flow and communications between parties.

7. Approvals, Licenses, and Closing

You’ll typically:

• Obtain landlord approval for the lease assignment or new lease
• Apply for a City of Atlanta business license
• Apply for or transfer alcohol licenses where allowed
• Prepare for health inspection under your operation

Once all contingencies are satisfied, you move to closing, where funds are transferred and ownership shifts.

Selling an International Cuisine Restaurant in Atlanta: What to Expect

For owners of existing international restaurants, these are the usual steps.

1. Initial Consultation and Pricing

You’ll discuss:

• Revenue trends and profitability
• Location strengths (proximity to MARTA, parking, growth areas)
• Any unique aspects of your cuisine or concept that may attract buyers

The broker may suggest a price range based on current Atlanta market conditions.

2. Gathering Documentation

You’ll likely need:

• Recent profit and loss statements
• Tax returns, if you wish to share them
• Lease and any amendments
• Equipment list and age/condition notes
• Information on any loans or liens related to the business

3. Marketing the Restaurant (Confidentially)

Most brokers list restaurants with:

• Generic descriptions (e.g., “Well-established Asian restaurant in busy intown corridor”)
• Details shared only after a buyer signs an NDA

This aims to:

• Protect your staff from premature worry
• Keep competitors from learning sensitive details
• Avoid potential disruption with the landlord

4. Buyer Screening and Showings

The broker:

• Screens buyer inquiries for seriousness and ability to close
• Schedules discreet before/after hours visits when appropriate

You may or may not meet buyers early in the process, depending on the situation.

5. Offers, Negotiation, and Closing

Once offers arrive, your broker:

• Explains terms in plain language
• Helps you compare not just price, but conditions and risks
• Coordinates the closing timeline with the buyer and landlord

Where Atlanta Restaurant Brokers Fit into the International Food Ecosystem

Atlanta’s diverse neighborhoods mean brokers see repeating patterns:

• Buford Highway (Chamblee, Doraville, Brookhaven)
  • Strong for pan-Asian, Latin American, and fusion concepts
  • Many second-generation spaces available from prior restaurateurs
• Midtown, Buckhead, and West Midtown
  • Higher rents but strong for upscale international and global fusion
  • Appeal to business, nightlife, and tourism trade
• Decatur and East Atlanta
  • Ideal for neighborhood-focused, globally inspired cafés and bistros
• Southwest Atlanta and Westside corridors
  • Growing opportunities, often for Caribbean, African, and Southern fusion concepts

Restaurant brokers often track which corridors are up-and-coming, which are stabilized, and where new developments might create future foot traffic.

Key Things to Look for When Choosing an Atlanta Restaurant Broker

Use this quick comparison-style view to evaluate brokers you’re considering:

Practical Tips for Working with a Restaurant Broker in Atlanta

• Be open about your goals.
  If you’re a buyer, share whether you want a quick flip, a long-term investment, or a flagship location. If selling, explain your true timeline.

• Ask about recent deals.
  Focus on where, what type of cuisine, and what price range to gauge how well their recent work matches your needs.

• Clarify communication methods.
  Decide whether you’ll primarily use email, phone, or text, and how often you expect updates.

• Use your own advisors too.
  Consider involving:

  • A Georgia business attorney
  • An accountant familiar with restaurants
  • An architect or contractor if you plan major changes
    The broker coordinates but does not replace these roles.

• Plan for licensing time in Atlanta.
  Ownership changes and new concepts can take time to clear business and alcohol licensing steps. Build this into your schedule and lease negotiations.

Additional Local Resources to Know

While not a substitute for a broker, these Atlanta-area resources often come up during restaurant purchases or launches:

• City of Atlanta – Office of Buildings & Office of Planning
  For zoning and building code questions
  55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

• City of Atlanta – Office of Revenue (Business Licenses)
  Same Trinity Avenue address; handles many business licensing questions

• Fulton County or DeKalb County Health Departments
  Depending on where your restaurant is located, you’ll work with one of these offices on food service permits and inspections.

Knowing where these offices are, and that you’ll likely interact with them, helps you understand why Atlanta restaurant brokers put so much emphasis on location, zoning, and timing in your deal.

For anyone living in, investing in, or relocating to Atlanta, a restaurant broker can be a key partner in navigating the complex but opportunity-rich world of international cuisine restaurants—from Buford Highway food halls to Midtown fine dining and neighborhood hidden gems across the metro area.