Prospective pharmacy buyers, sellers swap ideas, success stories at event

LAS VEGAS — Community pharmacy is a profession, but it’s also a business. To that end, McKesson has over the past three years provided a comprehensive and confidential online resource for prospective pharmacy buyers and sellers and for students interested in a career in independent pharmacy.

Launched in 2009, McKesson’s RxOwnership program for independent pharmacy is a Web-based pharmacy ownership transfer program designed to provide independents with useful information and business resources if they are considering buying or selling an independent pharmacy, on a confidential basis. RxOwnership.com also provides pharmacy students with information to learn more about independent pharmacy career opportunities.

All those elements were on display at the Fifth Annual Ownership Transfer Luncheon June 27. The informal two-hour seminar gave prospective buyers and sellers — a few pharmacy students were also in attendance — the chance to share ideas about pharmacy ownership, learn from their peers and learn more about the process of purchasing, selling or owning a retail pharmacy business.

“We’re here to partner with you, to provide you with the resources for buying [a pharmacy], selling or doing start-ups,” Bob Graul, former pharmacy owner and national VP RxOwnership for McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical, told the scores of pharmacists and students who attended the seminar, held during McKesson’s ideaShare conference.

RxOwnership.com gives independent pharmacy owners the chance to speak confidentially with an ownership consultant, create a plan for buying or selling a pharmacy, explore financing options and learn about the process of transferring ownership.

“McKesson provides an amazing array of services and a trusted group of advisers to help you. And the coolest part: it costs zip,” noted Roger Shepard, a business and entrepreneurial consultant who moderated the event.