Selling a grocery store in New Hampshire is an asset-sale job for most independents: recast earnings, price the stockroom at cost, and walk New Hampshire Liquor Commission plus New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection on their own clocks.
Keep a cash reserve in New Hampshire for the FNS gap. Authorization is location-and-owner specific. Skip blogs that invent how many New Hampshire grocers exist. We did not. New Hampshire does not get a homemade earnings multiple on this site. BizBuySell’s 2025 grocery sold average is 3.38; the 2021–2025 IQR is 1.60–3.15.
The New Hampshire map
Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover) is not interchangeable with the rest of New Hampshire. Higher-income independents and MA spillover. Your multiple argument is local even though the sourced comps are national. Manchester–Nashua is not interchangeable with the rest of New Hampshire. Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. Your multiple argument is local even though the sourced comps are national. Concord / Lakes Region is not interchangeable with the rest of New Hampshire. Seasonal plus capital-region stores. Your multiple argument is local even though the sourced comps are national. North Country is not interchangeable with the rest of New Hampshire. Rural single-store markets. Your multiple argument is local even though the sourced comps are national.
DOL’s July 1, 2026 consolidated table lists New Hampshire at Federal $7.25 (New Hampshire equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25). Federal $7.25 applies per DOL table. Confirm New Hampshire DOL posters.
Going-concern math
Illustrative, not a quote. New Hampshire example only: $201,027 SDE, $241,432 inventory, band $591,219–$844,513. Lease remaining term can move that more than the multiple.
| Owner | Agency | Close note |
|---|---|---|
| Retail food | New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection | New operator, not a sticker |
| Alcohol | New Hampshire Liquor Commission | Approval, not a handshake |
| EBT | USDA FNS | New application |
| Inventory | Count crew | $241,432 illustrative cost |
Who must say yes
- Put New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection on the same calendar
- Read the wholesaler guarantee
- Recast three New Hampshire years into SDE a lender will believe
- Put New Hampshire Liquor Commission on a dated workplan
- Pull sales-tax filings for New Hampshire
- Write transition hours into the APA
- Abstract assignment, options, exclusive use
Keep reading SDE, inventory at cost, seller hub, confidential sale. Sibling: buy in New Hampshire.
Food-tax and bulk-sale notes
Counsel still confirms the closing-date rate. The pack’s New Hampshire note reads: No state sales tax. New Hampshire does not levy a general retail sales tax on groceries.
Privilege file: New Hampshire Liquor Commission. Transfer note: Beer licenses transfer only with commission approval; spirits remain in the state outlet system.. Quota / local-option: Outlet siting is a state decision…
New Hampshire labor: Federal $7.25 (New Hampshire equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25). Federal $7.25 applies per DOL table. Confirm New Hampshire DOL posters.
Clearance practice: No sales tax; confirm DRA business-tax / meals-and-rooms issues if the store has a prepared-food counter.
Retail food: New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection. WIC: New Hampshire DHHS — WIC. Tobacco: New Hampshire Liquor Commission / DRA as applicable.
Independents still take trips Market Basket (DeMoulas) / Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) / Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) do not want. That is the New Hampshire pitch.
Wholesale names that show up: Associated Grocers of New England, C&S Wholesale Grocers, UNFI. Over-advances and personal guarantees travel.
Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover): Higher-income independents and MA spillover. Price that pocket as its own trade area.
Drive Manchester–Nashua before you argue a multiple. Primary independent and immigrant-market hub.
If the box sits in Concord / Lakes Region, say so in the teaser. Seasonal plus capital-region stores.
If the box sits in North Country, say so in the teaser. Rural single-store markets.
Broker-list note (not a HedgeStone license claim): Published business-broker licensing lists do not consistently treat New Hampshire as a real-estate-license-for-brokerage state. That is not the same as “unregulated”: securities, franchise, and local rules can still apply, and lists conflict. If the deal includes real estate (the building or an interest in real property), a real estate license is required in every state. This sentence is not a claim that HedgeStone or Jason Taken holds a license in this state. Source: https://www.bizbuysell.com/learning-center/article/business-broker-licenses-certifications/ (accessed 2026-09-03).
Incentive language stays qualitative: Federal HFFI may apply in rural north-country stores; no dollar figure recorded.
Critical path
Market Basket (DeMoulas) sets milk-and-egg price perception in parts of New Hampshire. Your independent still has to win trips that banner does not want.
Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) sets milk-and-egg price perception in parts of New Hampshire. Your independent still has to win trips that banner does not want.
A traveling buyer who only knows Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) will mis-read a New Hampshire ethnic or rural box. Price the file, not the fascia they drove past.
Ask whether Associated Grocers of New England will keep the incoming operator. A New Hampshire close that ignores that book is a close that reopens.
Ask whether C&S Wholesale Grocers will keep the incoming operator. A New Hampshire close that ignores that book is a close that reopens.
UNFI terms in New Hampshire belong in the recast. Drop minimums and personal guarantees travel with the buyer.
Seller note on Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover): Higher-income independents and MA spillover. Package that corridor separately from a statewide teaser.
Seller note on Manchester–Nashua: Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. Package that corridor separately from a statewide teaser.
Seller note on Concord / Lakes Region: Seasonal plus capital-region stores. Package that corridor separately from a statewide teaser.
Seller note on North Country: Rural single-store markets. Package that corridor separately from a statewide teaser.
Incentives stay qualitative in New Hampshire: Federal HFFI may apply in rural north-country stores; no dollar figure recorded.
Tobacco / health counterparties: New Hampshire Liquor Commission / DRA as applicable. Food: New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection.
DOL’s July 1, 2026 consolidated table lists New Hampshire at Federal $7.25 (New Hampshire equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25). Federal $7.25 applies per DOL table. Confirm New Hampshire DOL posters.
Food-tax treatment changes what “sales” means on a New Hampshire P&L. No state sales tax. New Hampshire does not levy a general retail sales tax on groceries. The CIM should say how the POS is coded, not just “food is exempt.”
If the store sells tickets, New Hampshire Lottery is a separate retailer contract and is not part of the bill of sale.
Recast the NH P&L before you argue New Hampshire Liquor Commission as a value-add.
Assignment language on a New Hampshire lease is often the whole critical path.
Likely acquirers
Start outreach with people who can survive New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection and a count night in NH.
File you need
Build the New Hampshire calendar around New Hampshire Liquor Commission and FNS, not around a Tuesday you announced to employees.
A CIM that names New Hampshire but hides New Hampshire is not a New Hampshire CIM.
A CIM that names Higher-income independents and MA spillover. but hides Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) is not a New Hampshire CIM.
Ask how UNFI interacts with Higher-income independents and MA spillover. on this New Hampshire lease and this privilege.
Ask how Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) interacts with New Hampshire DHHS — WIC on this New Hampshire lease and this privilege.
A CIM that names New Hampshire Liquor Commission / DRA as applicable but hides Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover) is not a New Hampshire CIM.
A CIM that names NH but hides New Hampshire is not a New Hampshire CIM.
Ask how Higher-income independents and MA spillover. interacts with Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) on this New Hampshire lease and this privilege.
Ask how Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover) interacts with Higher-income independents and MA spillover. on this New Hampshire lease and this privilege.
The Monday after close in New Hampshire still needs Associated Grocers of New England and NH to function.
The Monday after close in New Hampshire still needs Federal $7.25 (New Hampshire equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25) and Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) to function.
New Hampshire files stall when UNFI is treated as a courtesy and Associated Grocers of New England is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. in the same breath as Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize).
New Hampshire files stall when New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection is treated as a courtesy and New Hampshire Liquor Commission / DRA as applicable is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) in the same breath as New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection.
New Hampshire files stall when Higher-income independents and MA spillover. is treated as a courtesy and New Hampshire Liquor Commission is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions New Hampshire Liquor Commission in the same breath as New Hampshire.
New Hampshire files stall when Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) is treated as a courtesy and Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions Manchester–Nashua in the same breath as North Country.
New Hampshire files stall when Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. is treated as a courtesy and C&S Wholesale Grocers is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions New Hampshire DHHS, Food Protection in the same breath as Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.).
Write Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize) into the LOI beside New Hampshire DHHS — WIC before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write New Hampshire DHHS — WIC into the LOI beside UNFI before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write Rural single-store markets. into the LOI beside Rural single-store markets. before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write North Country into the LOI beside Market Basket (DeMoulas) before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write Seacoast (Portsmouth–Dover) into the LOI beside Higher-income independents and MA spillover. before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) into the LOI beside New Hampshire DHHS — WIC before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write New Hampshire DHHS — WIC into the LOI beside UNFI before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Write New Hampshire into the LOI beside Rural single-store markets. before anyone in New Hampshire tours.
Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. in New Hampshire changes how Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) is scheduled on a close calendar.
Manchester–Nashua in New Hampshire changes how Higher-income independents and MA spillover. is scheduled on a close calendar.
Operators already living with Shaw’s (Albertsons Cos.) underwrite UNFI faster than tourists in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire files stall when Concord / Lakes Region is treated as a courtesy and Associated Grocers of New England is treated as a surprise.
The honest New Hampshire teaser mentions NH in the same breath as Hannaford (Ahold Delhaize).
Market Basket (DeMoulas) is not decorative in New Hampshire. Neither is Federal $7.25 (New Hampshire equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25).
Operators already living with UNFI underwrite New Hampshire DHHS — WIC faster than tourists in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire files stall when Primary independent and immigrant-market hub. is treated as a courtesy and New Hampshire Liquor Commission is treated as a surprise.
Worked numbers
Illustrative, not a quote. For a New Hampshire, recast SDE of $219,956 at 1.96×–3.12× plus $168,934 inventory at cost frames a going-concern band of about $600,048 to $855,197. The 2.59× midpoint lands near $738,620. Lease remaining term and license lag can move the check more than the multiple.
$1 trillion in 2025 supermarket sales (FMI). 2.1% average net profit for food retailers in 2025 (FMI Speaks sample). SBA 7(a) can finance a change of ownership; the published maximum is $5 million.
Read lease diligence, liquor transfer, recasting a P&L. Cross-check how a sale works and the FAQ. Format pages live under sell an independent supermarket and buy an independent supermarket. Tools: valuation calculator, cash-to-close, rent checker.