SEVERAL businesses across Colchester are up for sale including a popular 'dark kitchen'. 

So, whether you are interested in the future of businesses near where you live or fancy becoming a potential buyer yourself, here are five of the most promising businesses in the area.

'Number 34' Colchester 

Gazette: Kitchen - Number 34 is a dark or ghost kitchen, optimised to take in online orders Kitchen - Number 34 is a dark or ghost kitchen, optimised to take in online orders (Image: businessesforsale.com)

First on the list is Number 34 - a ‘dark kitchen’ or ‘ghost kitchen’ referring to an online-only food delivery business where food is prepared at a separate takeaway premises rather than a restaurant.

Right now, the dark kitchen serves everything from Little Tacos to American Philly Cheesesteaks using kebab machines, fryers, griddles, grills, commercial ovens, and large commercial fridges and freezers.

The business is in North Station Road and another asset is the Just Eat Accounts the business has.

Full financials can be made available upon further request and the business is for sale for £419,995.

Ovenclean Franchise Colchester

Gazette: Franchise - As part of the Ovenclean franchise you would be cleaning client's ovens as well as other domestic appliancesFranchise - As part of the Ovenclean franchise you would be cleaning client's ovens as well as other domestic appliances (Image: businessesforsale.com)

Next on the list is the van-based business Ovenclean Franchise which has an asking price of £14,995.

Ovenclean was launched in 1994 and works in more than 100 locations in the UK, being a way for people to be their “own boss” while building up their own network of clients.

Ovenclean says demand has grown 17 per cent on pre-pandemic levels and you can also benefit from customer enquires through their head office.

Dream Doors Colchester

Gazette: Showroom - Dream Doors is a kitchen industry showroom with 5 branches in EssexShowroom - Dream Doors is a kitchen industry showroom with 5 branches in Essex (Image: businessesforsale.com)

Finally on the list is a chance to buy into a Colchester franchise by purchasing one of Dream Door’s five businesses across Essex for £75,000.

As a franchise business, the buyer does not need kitchen industry experience as they will be provided the “training, support, and infrastructure” for the business.  

Dream Doors says its average franchisees earn £100,000 a year, while “top performers” earn £250,000 annually.

The business, in St John’s street in the city centre, is part of the UK-wide network of locally owned showrooms.

The listings for the above businesses can be found on uk.businessesforsale.com.