Australia’s Business Brokers

"We have built a solid business relationship with John and Benchmark over the last few years and have complete confidence in him as a broker. We regard our company as one of the best in the business and we wouldn’t consider using any other broker other than John, he holds the same values as us towards our business and it’s as if he is part of our company, he always has our best interests at the forefront. During this transaction John sold one of our flagship stores and from the very beginning John was impressively professional which allowed us the time to continue running the other 200 stores we have. John’s number one attribute is his determination to get the result that is best for all parties, his knowledge of the industry is second to none and I wish I had his contact list!!! He has endless qualified buyers and that’s all we needed to know, that if one buyer doesn’t work out he has another person waiting in the wings. Great work John thanks once again." - Tony Lattouf, Joseph Lattouf, Emad Nayef and Romina Fiore | 01 Feb 2018 John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John really prides himself on offering his clients exceptional customer service, combined with his wealth of sales and industry knowledge. He has “been there and done that”, as he has owned his own business, and he has worked in many top salons around the world – and has experienced everything this industry has to offer. Get to know more about John Kasapi and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. John Kasapi is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Name Undisclosed , 13 Dec 2018 This is a very exciting time for us, as we have just purchased 6 new sites to add to our current portfolio and a new private product line! None of this could have been made possible if it wasn’t for Benchmark, as we had already purchased a site with them before we were on their radar.  They came to us with this opportunity and we knew it was a sound investment, yet again Benchmark stepped up each and every time when matters needed to be addressed. They assisted us with leasing and ensured that the lawyers stayed on track!! Which was a task in itself.  We look forward to working with Benchmark again in the future and would recommend anyone looking to expand their business.

Angela Jankovic , 21 Feb 2019 It is with pleasure to write this reference for Belinda who is assisting me with selling property on the Gold Coast. I have only known Belinda for a few months but can express my appreciation and gratitude towards the way she has assisted me through the process of selling a property. It can be quite daunting at times, but Belinda just knows how to take that pressure off you by her wisdom and knowledge of the industry. Belinda is very efficient when it comes to communication, always keeping me up to date on whatever is transpiring, which is very important to me, thus displaying confidence in her ability in selling property. She is passionate about her industry and the Benchmark slogan of “We value your business, you’ll value our experience” is exactly what Belinda provides. I have no hesitation and recommending Belinda to any prospective client wishing to sell their business/property, requiring the services of a woman whose honesty and integrity are beyond question. Angela Jankovic

Antionette Thorpe , 08 Apr 2019 One of the most important things I wanted in selling my business was a good tenant as I owned the building. Benchmark delivered a fantastic buyer and even arranged for me to stay on as an employee which works really great for both parties. The business was sold quickly, smoothly and for a great price. I am so delighted with the result.

Seller , 29 Sep 2020 She was the obvious choice when I decided to sell due to family commitments and she stepped up straight away. She had a lot of the paperwork still on file and quickly moved to finding a buyer. The buyer made an offer and I accepted – then Covid-19 hit! Due to the uncertainty the buyer pulled out. Nikki advised that she would return her deposit but would speak to her when everything calmed down. Nikki re-engaged the buyer, the buyer agreed to proceed and Nikki reinstated the contract.  The outcome was that my salon sold yesterday and I am delighted. Nikki did an excellent job at keeping the buyer updated and she assessed the timing perfectly to resurrect the deal AND got me a great result too! If I had another broker working on this (with less skill and experience), I am not sure the outcome would have been the same. Delighted!

From the beginning Ian Haggerty was very professional and in every conversation he demonstrated his industry knowledge and expertise as a broker. Des Pawelski , 12 Aug 2020 I have been in business for 51 years as cladding contractor with up to 100 employees who work in a factory and on larger commercial building sites. Two years ago I reached the stage where I felt that I should look to sell the business and started meeting with business brokers who advertised in the newspaper’s classified and on Google. None of the brokers seemed to genuinely understand my business or how to find a buyer. Late last year a competitor from another state phoned and said that he was interested in selling his business. He mentioned talking with a broker who was putting together a number of similar contracting businesses to sell to an investment group. Soon after, I was in contact with Ian Haggerty of Benchmark Corporate based in Queensland. From the beginning Ian was very professional and in every conversation he demonstrated his industry knowledge and expertise as a broker. Ian took the time to understand my position and then pointed out the advantages and pitfalls in selling my business. We discussed a marketing plan along with an Information Memorandum showing what the business had done in the past, the future potential and the asset/liability position. Things were looking promising. An advantage of the Benchmark organisation is that they have over 65 brokers operating throughout Australia and a huge buyer data base of potential buyers who have looked at businesses they had for sale in the past. From this pool we soon had prospective purchasers looking over the business, some expressed interest, others thought that the type of business was too hands on for them as every contract we perform is a bit different. In February the COVID virus struck causing major delays on a number of our larger projects, which caused significant cash flow issues. Things were looking grim and my hopes of a sale started to diminish. I consulted with a liquidator over insolvency concerns and administration was recommended (my cashflow had halved). Selling my business now appeared impossible - the employee accruals from long serving workers was a significant problem. I informed Ian that I had sought the advice of a liquidator and was intending on placing the company into administration. Ian strongly advised against taking such drastic action and recommended an immediate consultation with ReGroup Solutions, a firm of Turnaround Practitioners. Ian had worked with the ReGroup team previously and gotten excellent results. ReGroup Solutions provided excellent financial advice and guidance and I was able to regain control of trading operations. I then contacted some local businesses (who Ian had contacted previously) and was able to inform them that the crisis situation had been resolved and I was now able to continue trading whilst exploring offers for a sale of the business. Out of the multiple enquiries Ian received, we were left with two companies with serious offers on the table (despite this being around the time of the COVID virus outbreak). Ian collaborated with ReGroup Solutions and set about negotiating with the interested parties. Due to Ian’s involvement and assistance from ReGroup Solutions, we finally agreed a fair market sale of the business and the majority of employees jobs were saved. Ian went beyond the call of duty and negotiated a very reasonable two year consultancy position with the purchaser.   With the pandemic, these are very turbulent times. If you are concerned about succession or looking to sell your business, then I highly recommend Ian Haggerty from Benchmark. Ian is extremely adept at strategically managing the negotiations, assessing the genuineness of prospective buyers and then closing the best deal for his client. Ian’s approach was professional and he maintains strict confidentiality throughout. Ian understood the opportunity and potential for my business and then presented this to prospective buyers in the best light. Thanks Ian and Benchmark. Ian Haggerty receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. Before joining the team at Benchmark (as a senior business broker), Ian was QLD State manager for Flow Systems (part of the Brookfield group) where he created dynamic growth opportunities for developers within the residential and commercial property markets. Prior to Flow, Ian was also at Trility, (part of Mitsubishi) Australia’s third largest water company, and was Head of Strategic Growth. Ian developed strategies for the company’s growth from 120 employees to over 400 employees today, including sourcing joint venture arrangements and value added acquisitions. Get to know more about Ian Haggerty and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. Ian Haggerty is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Paul , 13 Dec 2018 ” Thank you Michael. Thank you for your assistance and persistence with this Michael, I know we were not really in your “demographic” but we needed help with it and you did a great job. I would be happy to recommend you in the future. ” Kind Regards Paul

"I went to see Keith Brewster at Benchmark in July when the turnover for our business, which deals mostly with overseas clients, had dropped by around 80%. Nine months prior to that we had signed a three year lease, so our situation was not good. As well as the lease payments, we also had the ongoing cost of maintaining the small amount business that was left. Keith gave me some hope that we may be able to dispose of the business, & set about on a very professional & comprehensive marketing programme with other Benchmark staff. This achieved quite a few enquiries. Keith kept in very regular contact with me at all times, & after any enquiry or inspection he gave me full feedback. When he found the buyer, Keith did a magnificent job liaising with buyer, seller, & lawyers. This was a difficult business to sell, & I congratulate Keith & the team at Benchmark on their success. This result has taken a large weight from my mind, thank you. I would strongly recommend Keith & Benchmark if you have a business to sell." - Kevin Meagher | December 2020 Keith Brewster receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. Keith's career has been about creating successful business outcomes for all parties in different contexts. As an entrepreneur running his own property development company it meant finding opportunity personally and then finding a way to make it work. As a State Manager it meant managing large teams of ambitious salespeople whilst also managing the needs of customers and those of the corporation. Get to know more about Keith Brewster and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. Keith Brewster is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

"I would like firstly to say if anyone is looking at selling do not even speak to another broker as what this guy done for me was remarkable. I can’t believe I have sold and I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet right now consider we are going through this corona virus pandemic. Top marks for an incredible result all round. I’m ecstatic and the loveliest buyer is really delighted with the purchase even though we are in a day out from Lockdown. Crazy times but thanks a bunch." - Iain Crouch | 19 May 2020 John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John has always been involved with the hair and beauty industry all of his working life, and he offers an in-depth knowledge to all buyers and sellers. He enjoys helping people achieve their dreams, whether it be buying, selling or investing. John really understands that in many cases, a business can be a major asset, so he likes to ensure that the process, whether it be buying or selling, is “smooth sailing” for everyone concerned. Get to know more about John Kasapi and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. John Kasapi is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

To anyone thinking of selling or buying in the hospitality industry, Sam Pask is your Broker. Sam will go out of his way to match the appropriate Buyer with the Seller to achieve a successful outcome for both parties. He has great enthusiasm and communication skills when going through a contractual process because of personal experiences and a wealth of knowledge in the industry. - Leanne, Former Director Wooden Horse Restaurant, Clayfield Brisbane.