Golden Eagle Coaches

Long established (1926), third‑generation luxury coach hire company, trusted brand.

Prime trading location off M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Strong profits with six figure EBITDA. Trading premises includes public MOT, wash bay, workshop. Versatile fleet ranging from 49 to 70 seaters. School contracts, football and corporate travel. Further scope for increasing via public tenders, rail replacement, corporate shuttles. Retirement sale. Ideal bolt acquisition opportunity. Hand over will be offered.

Golden Eagle Coaches Limited, 197 Main Street, Salsburgh, ML7 4LS. Scotland.

Freehold land and garage available by separate negotiation. *

Coach and Bus Hire Operator with MOT Station.

Scottish Business Centre is delighted to bring to market Golden Eagle Coaches Limited, an exceptional third‑generation coach and bus operator based in Salsburgh, North Lanarkshire. Trading continuously since 1926 and conveniently positioned just off the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the business generates impressive profits underpinned by long‑standing school transport contracts, private hire (including football and event travel), repeat school trips, and additional garage income from MOTs and repairs.

Investment highlights

·      Prime trading location: Minutes from the M8 with rapid access to Scotlands two largest cities, both airports, and major event venues

·      Diverse revenue base: Contracts, private hire, school trips, event and football travel, plus public MOT station and workshop income

·      Consistently profitable trading with further upside from tourism and new contracts

·      Operator Licence for up to 30 vehicles; current fleet c.16 coaches/buses; yard can comfortably accommodate full licence capacity

·      Fleet market value circa £325,000 at guidance; all vehicles fitted with seat belts; 49–51 seaters benefit from onboard toilets; luxury coach hire available up to 53 seats (toilet, air‑con; many with fridge/sink)

·      Well‑equipped garage: Class IV MOT station, two pits, hydraulic beam lifts, wash bay, and in‑house maintenance capability

·      Experienced team of 19 providing continuity and operational resilience

·      Powerful heritage brand founded 1926 with excellent reputation for reliability and customer care

·      Reason for sale: Retirement of the third‑generation owners, making for a smooth handover and compelling acquisition timing

Business overview

History and heritage: Golden Eagle Coaches began in 1926 when founder Peter Irvine, a local miner, invested family savings into a 14‑seater bus to serve Salsburgh and Airdrie. The company moved into touring in 1935, adopted the Golden Eagle name, and was the first in Scotland to send a coach across the Channel in the 1950s. After absorbing a local operator in 1960, the firm expanded services and premises. Today, Golden Eagle remains synonymous with reliability, safety, and customer care evidenced by strong repeat custom and recommendations—run by the third generation of the Irvine family since 1996.

Services and customers

·      Contracted school transport for local councils

·      Private hires for clubs, community groups, weddings, corporate days, and sporting events

·     Football and event travel with regular repeat bookings

·      School trips and educational travel

·      Public MOT station (Class IV) and vehicle repairs

·      Luxury coach options for corporate and higher‑end clientele

Assets and facilities

·      Operator Licence: Up to 30 vehicles

·      Fleet: Approximately 16 buses/coaches (market value c. £325,000); all seat‑belt equipped; 49–51 seaters fitted with toilets; luxury coaches to 53 seats with air conditioning and, in most cases, fridge and sink

·      Depot: Generous yard able to house well in excess of the full licence volume

·      Workshop: Class IV MOT station for public trade, two pits, hydraulic beam lifts, wash bay, and ample floor space for maintenance and repairs

Staffing

An experienced team of 19 across driving, workshop, and administration functions

TUPE will apply where relevant; a detailed staff schedule will be provided to qualified parties post‑NDA

Location advantages

·      Central Belt coverage: Immediate access to Glasgow, Edinburgh, North and South Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Falkirk, and Stirling

·      Infrastructure: Close to M8 corridor, multi‑venue catchment (stadia, arenas, exhibition centres), and both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports

·      Tourism gateway: Well‑positioned for itineraries to Edinburgh festivals and attractions, Glasgows cultural and sporting events, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, St Andrews and Fife, the Central Highlands, and cruise‑linked day trips from Leith and Rosyth

Current trading drivers

Impressive profitability predominantly driven by multi‑route school contracts, football/event travel, and repeat school trips. Workshop revenues from MOTs and repairs provide complementary, counter‑cyclical income and contribute to fleet control and uptime. Strong brand reputation underpins high levels of repeat and referral business

Opportunities for growth

·      Scale vehicle numbers and routes

·      Fill spare Operator Licence capacity toward 25–30 vehicles to meet market demand

·      Target additional council frameworks in adjacent authorities; develop SEN and ASN transport capability where appropriate

·      Expand rail‑replacement and event shuttle work; leverage central location for rapid deployment

Enter new markets

·      Inbound tourism: Partner with UK and international tour operators, destination management companies (DMCs), and cruise excursion specialists

·      Golf and heritage tours: Create packaged offerings with hotels, golf venues, and attractions

·      Corporate mobility: Contracted shuttle services for business parks, construction and infrastructure projects, film production, and conferences

·      Universities and private schools: Term‑time transport, sports fixtures, airport transfers, and open‑day logistics

·      Sports and live events: Preferred supplier status with clubs and arenas; scalable peak‑event operations

Enhance the MOT and workshop

Extend MOT capacity and opening hours; explore adding Classes V and VII subject to approvals and investment. Promote third‑party PSV/LGV servicing; offer wash bay, diagnostics, and contract maintenance to local operators and fleets. Consider accreditation pathways (where applicable) to strengthen credibility and win fleet contracts

Marketing and sales acceleration

Digital: Further upgrade the already modernised website with live quote and availability tools; invest in SEO for “coach hire Glasgow/Edinburgh/M8” targeted PPC for high‑intent searches; structured FAQ and landing pages for weddings, schools, sports, and corporate

Aggregators and portals: Increase presence on reputable coach‑hire marketplaces while maintaining margin discipline

Partnerships: Preferred‑supplier agreements with hotels, venues, universities, sports clubs, wedding planners, travel agents, and DMCs

Brand and reputation: Fleet re‑livery and professional photography; proactive review management on Google and social channels; case studies showcasing safety, reliability, and heritage

Ideal acquirer

The sale arises due to our client’s retirement, presenting a rare opportunity possibly for a larger coach group seeking a strategic Central Belt depot and bolt‑on earnings. The business would also appeal to an ambitious independent operator ready to scale using spare Operator Licence capacity and a yard already configured to support growth.

Why this sale appeals

·      Retirement sale offers continuity with vendor support during handover.

·      A rare chance to acquire a profitable, well‑regarded operator with its own MOT station and workshop.

·      Outstanding platform for a larger coach company to add depot coverage on the M8, reduce dead mileage, consolidate back‑office, and unlock procurement and insurance economies of scale.

·      For a new owner‑operator, a turnkey business with established contracts, strong brand equity and clear growth levers.

“Bolt-on” acquisition opportunity for existing operators

The sale of Golden Eagle Coaches represents a compelling bolt-on opportunity for an established coach operator seeking immediate scale in Scotland’s Central Belt. With its trusted heritage brand, strong trading performance, experienced team, and prime M8 location between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the business offers instant market presence, spare Operator Licence capacity, and a depot configured for growth.

Key synergy benefits for an acquirer

·      Route and fleet optimisation: Deploy vehicles across a wider network to improve utilisation, reduce dead mileage, and cut subcontractor spend.

·      Purchasing economies: Consolidate fuel, tyres, parts, insurance, and finance to secure group pricing and enhanced terms.

·      Maintenance integration: In-house MOT station and workshop reduce external maintenance costs and downtime; potential to service group fleet and third parties.

·      Overhead efficiencies: Centralise functions (dispatch, compliance, HR, payroll, accounts, marketing) and standardise systems to lower unit costs.

·      Sales uplift: Cross-sell across group customer bases; leverage the Golden Eagle brand to win council frameworks, rail-replacement, events, and tourism contracts.

·      Workforce and compliance: Absorb skilled drivers and engineering team; align training, telematics, LEZ/PSVAR strategies, and safety standards across the group.

·      Network resilience: Multi-depot coverage for major events and rail disruption, improving response times and reliability.

The acquisition potentially provides a low friction pathway to scale with immediate revenue, proven profitability, and clear synergy-driven cost savings, while preserving a renowned Scottish brand.

What’s included

·      Goodwill in the Golden Eagle Coaches brand and trading name.

·      Customer relationships and historical booking data.

·      MOT station, wash bay and workshop facilities at the premises*

·      Fleet and equipment as held at completion (details to be provided).

·      Staff subject to TUPE where applicable; experienced team and operational know‑how.

·      Handover period by agreement to support a smooth transition.

·      *Garage, workshop & land available for sale by separate negotiation.

Process and next steps

Viewings and discussions strictly by appointment via Scottish Business Centre.

A detailed fleet schedule and financials are available to qualified parties upon signing a non‑disclosure agreement. Offers invited for the shares or assets of the business, subject to contract.

Freehold land and garage available by separate negotiation: Golden Eagle Coaches Limited trading premises, 197 Main Street, Salsburgh, ML7 4LS. The subjects comprise a compact complex of three industrial buildings set within a slightly irregular-shaped, self-enclosed yard. Two units are owner-occupied and currently trading as Golden Eagle Coaches Ltd. The third unit is currently empty but has potential to be leased to a third party. Accommodation includes a central unit and an MOT/wash bay suited to maintenance, testing and vehicle preparation. The total gross internal area across the complex extends to approximately 883.20 sq m (9,507 sq ft). The enclosed 1-acre yard can comfortably accommodate in excess of 30 coaches, providing ample parking, turning and general operational space for large vehicles. The trading premises and land is available to purchase by separate negotiation.

To note:

The particulars are provided by Scottish Business Centre in good faith on instruction of our clients and are for guidance only. They do not form part of any contract and should not be relied upon as statements of fact. Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the information, condition of assets, and obtain appropriate professional, legal and financial advice. Anti‑money laundering regulations apply. To register interest or arrange a confidential discussion, please contact Scottish Business Centre.