Australia’s Business Brokers

Lisa Oakes , 08 Apr 2019 I got a phone call out of the blue from Clyde who said that he had a buyer and really wanted me to list my salon so that he could introduce them to my salon, it was all quite random but the timing was perfect because I was scheduled to have surgery early in the new year and would be out of action for months after the surgery. I was a little dubious that there really was a buyer, but I actually received an offer the day after I signed the agreement! Things definitely weren’t all smooth sailing though. The contract period went over the Christmas break and then the buyer had to go overseas for 6 weeks and all the accountants and solicitors were also on holidays! I thought the sale was off however Clyde was very calm and reassured me that the sale would proceed when the buyer was back from overseas, which it did. Now I can focus on my recovery without the stress of running the business, awesome job!

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.

“We had been speaking to Benchmark for over a year but nothing was quite right for us but we kept in contact with them and encouraged John to find us our dream investment. We finally got the call and jumped on the two businesses. Each step of the way he helped negotiate and finalise all aspects of the complex process. So professional and we can't wait to get the next few salons.” - Vikram Mahajan, Steve Pan & Gaurav Verrma - Buyers | 25 Jun 2019 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.

"John kasapi was great to deal with and one of the nicest business brokers I came across during my search. He was so accommodating and thorough making sure all my boxes were ticked off along the way. He organized meetings and made sure I had everything to make this a smooth experience. His support and guidance lead to fantastic result. Definitely make John your first point of contact in the sales process."  - Nuwanthi Peiris | 10 Sep 2021 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.

Bare Again , 01 Jun 2018 We recently sold our business with Benchmark Business Sales. They were very professional and had an excellent understanding of what we wanted to achieve with the sale and the best way to approach it. As busy professionals, Benchmark made the whole process flow smoothly and achieved the best outcome for us in a timely manner. I would not hesitate to recommend Benchmark to anyone looking to sell their business

"I enjoyed dealing with John when I was buying a business in Melbourne and he handled it so well that when I went to sell I automatically call him. He quickly ran me through all of the info that I needed to prepare for the sale and then he found a buyer quickly, the sale went smoothly and I got a great price. I'm so glad that I went with Benchmark." - Kiah Perkins | 08 Apr 2019 John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John Kasapi specialises in the sale of hair and beauty salons across all states in Australia. He has more than 15 years of experience working in the hair and beauty industry – so he really knows and understands the industry and the marketplace much better than most. 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.

Jules , 13 Dec 2018 I first made contact with nikki several years ago and talked to her about various plans we had for the salon Industry. When these plans changed and we decided to go a different direction, my first call was to Nikki to discuss what we were looking for. She has helped us work through the process at every step and was straight forward in her approach. We worked well together and will stay in touch with Nikki for anything we are doing in the future. Thanks for your assistance Nikki in this project and we look forward to the next one!

Mark provided excellent support, guidance and information for my client in the purchase of an RTO. He follows up when he says he will and is professional, courteous, and practical. His efforts to steer the sale from enquiry to completion went at times beyond his brief in an effort to provide solutions to any issues that were raised. I have operated as an VET and RTO compliance consultant for more than 20 years and am pleased to recommend Mark if you are looking for excellent customer service, integrity and RTO industry knowledge and experience. I look forward to an opportunity to work with Mark again. - Jex McNamara | July 22. Mark Crapper receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. Mark’s achievements in business ownership, business development and consulting are impressive, to say the least.  His drive has always been the pursuit of betterment and growth, for himself and for others.  “Working with business owners and helping them achieve their goals are incredibly satisfying,” he insists. Though initially qualifying as an electrician, Mark’s instincts took him straight into small business ownership.  Starting as a partner in one of the earliest Donut King stores in Australia, he went on to spend 20 years developing a home-grown Australian brand into the largest and most successful food franchise brand in its category in Australia. Get to know more about Mark Crapper and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. Mark Crapper is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

John O , 25 Jul 2019 “Sylvia has been totally professional, knowledgeable and there at every twist and turn. We had a number of problems along the way and each time Sylvia kept the sale on track and took action to get the deal done. At times our emotions got the better of us but  Sylvia made us feel that we were in safe hands. Sylvia, actually found a buyer quickly for our Salon and we settled within 4 months, the purchaser is the perfect fit for my Skin Clinic, allowing me to walk away with confidence and knowing my clients will be in good hands. I strongly recommend Benchmark Salon Sales." Benchmark Business Sales and Valuations

" We found them so helpful all the way through the sale which took quite a while and required a lot of changes from the buyer. Keith communicated with us and kept us up to date with the sale the whole time. The team were great help with guidelines on forms and emails that needed to go to our solicitor to keep the sale on track. Keith helped me through many issues and his knowledge was amazing on what we needed to move forward with. Keith was one of the most professional people I have ever worked with and would recommend him and Benchmark to any of my business associates when selling. Thank you to Benchmark and your team it was hard going but with you having our backs we got there." - Sandi and Roy Koops | 11 Dec 2021 Keith Brewster receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. When it comes to putting a sale together that works for all parties, his principles are: Transparency. Doing business honestly and transparently, is in his words; “the only way to go, anything else is too stressful” Communications As a communicator Keith is clear, concise and frank. He makes sure everyone is in the loop and maintains a clear focus on the needs of each party. Enthusiasm and Positivity Keith knows that enthusiasm and positivity are essential ingredients of sales success and he has both in spades. Customer Care For Keith looking after the needs of his clients comes first and foremost in everything he does.  He has a long track record of facilitating sales built on a foundation of customer care. 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.