The sale of a franchise business is a completely different procedure compared to the sale of a normal independent business and making mistakes will see you lose out on precious months, not to mention potentially tens of thousands of dollars. The franchisee needs to obtain the approval of the franchisor for his new owner. There […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q3 2026 Report

Selling an e-commerce business isn’t too different from selling any other type of business, but there are some unique aspects that can surprise online sellers. Instead of physical stock, you’re dealing with digital products or drop shipping. Your lease could just be a subscription to Shopify, and instead of counting customers coming through a door, […]

When it comes to selling a consulting business in Australia, few business brokers would deny that it can be an extremely complicated undertaking that most owners do not comprehend until it is too late, because they simply don’t understand that it is entirely different from selling any other business. What is the problem? Well, quite […]

Selling a mowing service business is essentially demonstrating that someone else could manage your clients, your equipment, and your weekly routine and earn money right off the bat. That sounds pretty simple, but the sales process is difficult because owners often do not realise just how much the buyer is assessing before signing a cheque. […]

When it comes to selling your NDIS business, there’s one key issue that most business owners fail to consider in their early planning phase; can the buyer acquire the business based on the way your registrations are structured? If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘I’m not sure,’ then you may find yourself spending months preparing […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q2 2026 Report

For more than 25 years, Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations has helped Australians buy and sell businesses with confidence. Throughout that time, one principle has remained constant: successful business transactions are built on trust, transparency and professionalism. From 1 July 2026, Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms introduced an important new chapter for […]

Selling a supermarket isn’t simply about finding a buyer willing to purchase your shelves, refrigeration and stock. You’re selling a complex retail operation with thousands of product lines, sophisticated inventory systems, supplier agreements, lease obligations, food safety requirements and, most importantly, a proven ability to generate consistent cash flow. Whether you own an independent supermarket, […]

Most owners sell a business once. The buyers across the table may have bought several. A business broker closes that gap: they price the business, market it confidentially, find and qualify buyers, negotiate the deal and keep it on track through due diligence to settlement. This guide explains what a broker does at each stage, […]

Selling a restaurant is more time-consuming than most restaurateurs think it will be. The process usually spans between six months to one year from the point at which the owner decides to sell until the actual transfer of ownership. All the actions that occur prior to the listing stage will have a significant impact on […]

Just Remember Every year, the Federal Budget arrives with predictions of major change for Australian business owners. Tax rates shift, thresholds move, incentives are introduced or removed, and economic priorities evolve alongside changing governments and market conditions. While these announcements can influence business confidence and decision-making, experienced business owners understand that long-term success is rarely […]

A childcare business sale is a relatively complicated process compared to other business sales within Australia. Childcare businesses attract buyers due to their governmental subsidies, high barriers to market entry, and recurring revenue models; however, the legal regulation of services approval, licensing, provider changes, and CCS agreements makes it more complicated than any other industry. […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q1 2026 Report

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q4 2025 Report  

Business Brokers are often asked “how can I sell my business quickly”… the answer is that we need to get buyers interested in the business for sale. Over many years we have found that most buyers are local. In fact, about 80% of buyers are locals. Only 20% come other sources – most from interstate. […]

Be Totally Honest!  If you want to get the best possible price for your business, there’s no doubt that you must be completely honest. Not only honest with the buyer. Or your business broker. But you have to be honest with yourself. Before placing a business on the market you need to be brutally honest […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q3 2025 Report  

Every owner leaves their business one day. An exit strategy means you decide when, how and for how much, instead of leaving it to your health, your age or the market. This guide covers what an exit strategy is, your exit options, a seven-step exit plan, how to lift your business’s value, when to sell […]

Due diligence is your chance to check that a business is what the seller says it is, before you are committed to buying it. This checklist covers what to review, the documents to ask for, who does what, how long it takes, the red flags to watch for and what to do with what you […]

After 27 years owning and operating Maleny Supa IGA, Rob and Samantha Outridge decided it was time to sell their business and retire. Maleny Supa IGA is the oldest commercial premises in the largest town in the Blackall Range, in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Rob and Samantha had purchased the store in 1995 and transformed […]

Many business owners are not sure of the issues and factors that cause CGT to be paid (or not paid), when a business is sold. The CGT legislation is structured so that the owner of a small business (who is well advised and uses an appropriate business structure) may never have to pay Capital Gains […]

If you are thinking of buying a Service Station, you should consider if the Service Station is Metro or Regional – and which option offers the best returns  The location of a Service Station will likely be first on your list since the direction of traffic flow indicates if the Service Station is the nearest […]

PREDICTABLE TRENDS IN BUSINESS SALES How does buyer demand for businesses change over each year? For more than 25 years Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations has measured trends in demand for small businesses. Demand rises and falls in a predictable way, and through mapping the monthly rates of buyer enquiry over the 20+ years we […]

Just like housing, why does one home in one suburb sell more than the same home in another suburb? There are number of reasons why stores that trade similarly sell at a higher price than the other. These can be location, age of store, type of centre, size of store, Gross Profit, competition, and rent. […]

Business listings and sale contracts are full of shorthand. SAV, WIWO, PEBITDA, going concern and plus legals all affect what you pay or receive. This glossary explains the words and acronyms you will see when buying or selling a business in Australia, in plain language, starting with the abbreviations used in business listings. SAV means […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q2 2025 Report  

Use these 17 tips prior to engaging a business broker and you could save time, money and the possible disruption to your business.   We often meet with business sellers who have been given the complete “run around” by salespeople who really has no intention (or clue on how) to sell a business and they […]

Buying a business in South Australia Stamp duty on a business purchase in South Australia (SA) South Australia charges no stamp duty on business assets such as goodwill, equipment and stock, and none on commercial or industrial property bought under a contract from 1 July 2018. Duty only applies if the purchase includes residential or […]

Buying a business in Victoria Stamp duty on a business purchase in Victoria (VIC) Victoria does not charge stamp duty on goodwill, stock or other business assets when you buy a business on its own. Duty applies when the purchase includes Victorian land, such as the freehold, along with any plant and equipment sold with […]

Buying a business in Western Australia Stamp duty on a business purchase in Western Australia (WA) Western Australia charges transfer duty (stamp duty) on the business assets you buy, including goodwill, intellectual property, business licences and the plant and equipment sold with them. Trading stock and vehicles are not included. General rates run from $1.90 […]

Buying a business in New South Wales Stamp duty on a business purchase in New South Wales (NSW) NSW does not charge transfer duty (stamp duty) on goodwill, intellectual property, statutory licences or trading stock. Duty does apply to land, to a lease you take over, to fixtures and fit-out, and to equipment transferred with […]

Buying a business in Queensland Stamp duty on a business purchase in Queensland (QLD) Queensland charges transfer duty (stamp duty) on the business assets you buy, including goodwill, plant and equipment, stock and intellectual property, not just on land. The buyer pays it, at rates from $1.50 to $5.75 per $100, and it must be […]

Selling a business is a significant milestone for owners, whether you’re planning to move on to new ventures, retiring, or simply taking a well-earned break. However, amidst the excitement of closing a deal, one crucial consideration often catches business owners off guard: Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Understanding how CGT works when selling a business in […]

Business valuation guide How to value a manufacturing business in Australia Most small and mid-sized manufacturers in Australia sell for 1.5 to 5 times their adjusted earnings, usually including the plant and equipment needed to run them, plus stock at value. Where yours sits depends on how widely sales are spread across customers, the state […]

Business valuation guide How to value a hospitality business in Australia Most leasehold restaurants, bars and venues in Australia sell for 1 to 3.5 times their adjusted profit, plus stock at value. Where yours sits depends on how reliable the trade is, how long the lease runs, whether the liquor licence transfers cleanly, and whether […]

Business valuation guide How to value a consulting business in Australia Most consulting firms in Australia sell for 0.5 to 4 times their adjusted profit, and part of the price is often paid later through an earn-out. Where yours sits depends on how much revenue is recurring, how widely it is spread across clients, and […]

Business valuation guide How to value a construction business in Australia Most small and mid-sized construction and trade businesses in Australia sell for 1 to 4.5 times their adjusted profit, usually including the plant, vehicles and tools needed to run them. Where yours sits depends on how much work is booked ahead, how widely revenue […]

Business valuation guide How to value a beauty or hair salon in Australia Most beauty and hair salons in Australia sell for 0.8 to 3 times their adjusted profit, plus stock at value. Where yours sits depends on how many clients rebook, whether those clients belong to the salon or to individual stylists, and how […]

Business valuation guide How to value an ecommerce business in Australia Most ecommerce businesses in Australia sell for 1.5 to 4.5 times their adjusted profit, plus stock at value. Where yours sits depends on where your customers come from, how many come back, whether you own the brand and products, and how much of the […]

Business valuation guide How to value a franchise business in Australia Most franchise businesses in Australia sell for 1 to 3.5 times their adjusted profit, plus stock at value. Where yours sits depends on the strength of the brand, how long is left on the franchise agreement and lease, and what the franchisor will require […]

Business valuation guide How to value a childcare business in Australia Most leasehold long day care centres in Australia sell for 1.5 to 4.5 times their adjusted EBITDA. Where yours sits depends mostly on occupancy, the number of licensed places, the centre’s quality rating and how long the lease runs. Request a valuation How much […]

Business valuation guide How to value a cafe or coffee shop business in Australia Most cafes and coffee shops in Australia sell for 1 to 3 times their adjusted net profit, plus stock at value. Where yours sits in that range depends on how reliable the profit is, how long the lease runs and how […]

Business valuation guide How to value a business in Australia Most small and medium businesses in Australia sell for 1 to 5 times their adjusted profit, plus stock at value. The multiple reflects how much risk a buyer takes on: how reliable the profit is, how much depends on the owner, and how easily the […]

Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations State of Market Download Q1 2025 Report  

Buyers, their accountants and their lenders will pull your business apart before they pay for it. A health check lets you do it first, on your own timetable, so you can fix problems or explain them before they cost you on price. This guide gives you the checklist buyers work through, explains why clean books […]

When you decide to sell your business you are making one of the most important decisions you will ever make. This occurs after a lot of planning and thinking. Selling can be a very unsettling and disturbing process for the owner, as you don’t want to upset staff, suppliers, or clients who may leave, and […]

If your business sells gift cards or vouchers, some will still be unused when you sell. Your customers have already paid for them, so they are a debt the business owes, and someone has to honour them after settlement. The usual answer is simple: the buyer honours the cards, and the price is adjusted at […]

Most businesses that change hands in Australia still owe money somewhere: a bank loan, equipment finance, a tax bill or suppliers. Debt does not stop a sale. In most sales the buyer pays a clean price for the assets, and your debts are paid out of the sale proceeds at settlement. This guide explains how […]

For most businesses that rent their premises, the lease is part of what the buyer is paying for. A buyer wants to keep trading from the same address, and their lender wants enough time left on the lease to repay the loan. The lease passes to the buyer by assignment, which needs the landlord’s consent. […]