Benchmark Business Sales and Valuations is proud to announce the successful sale of Doug Hayes Transport, made possible through the expert guidance of Karl Barban. With his extensive knowledge of the transport industry and the use of the six key elements for a successful sale, Karl was able to achieve this outcome in just six […]

When buying a business that holds any kind of stock, it’s important to set the parameters for the stocktake process to ensure the stock you are buying is still in a saleable condition. That refers to both its age and standard of undamaged packaging. The average benchmark for “use by” codes from date of stocktake […]

Buying an existing business is an excellent way for Australians to start running successful enterprises and turning a profit. When you buy an existing business, you can assess everything about the business to get a good idea of what exactly it is you’re facing. In many ways, it can take some of the risk out […]

Today, in Australia, there are over 2.4 million actively trading businesses, increasing at a whopping rate of nearly 90,000 per year. Looking at the sheer numbers, it is easy to forget that each business is utterly unique – and so should be its exit strategy. But once you have decided to sell your business, what steps […]

“How can I increase the value of my café?” There are four ways to increase value of your cafe. Improve Profit Reduce Risk Improve the ‘Balance Sheet”  Find a “Strategic Buyer” One simple method is to increase your sales. Grow the top line and invariably the bottom line will follow suit. What are a couple […]

You can have your business appraised.  Or, you can have it valued. A business valuation is far more thorough and therefore holds a lot more accuracy than that of a business appraisal. Both however, are super important when either buying or selling a business. The following blog will analyse the difference between a business valuation […]

It’s not uncommon for people to confuse a business appraisal with a business valuation. While both are similar, a business valuation is far more thorough than a business appraisal. To put it simply, an appraisal is an estimate of what the business will sell for at that point in time. However, a business valuation involves a whole […]

What you need to know before starting a business. Are you sure that you are ready to own your own business? Are you prepared to do what you need to do? Many people, with all levels of expertise and enthusiasm, don’t take time to make sure that they are ready to be a business owner. Here are […]

How to improve your Business that sustained through the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic Sorry to be so serious…, but things could start getting interesting for small business in Australia in the next few months. With the Australian government’s economic support packages coming to an end, it’s time to start thinking about what your business will look like […]

What happens after the Stimulus and relief package ends in March 2021? A letter from the principal of Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations Dear Business Owners: Sorry to be so serious…, but it looks like things could start getting interesting for small business in Australia in the next few months. With the Australian government’s economic […]

How do some small businesses manage to grow and thrive while others seem to struggle and miss opportunities that come their way? It appears the most successful business owners display some clear patterns and habits. Here are 8 secrets for achieving growth regardless of the economy. Grow to survive – Many small businesses assume it’s best […]

Here are some basic ideas that are often forgotten and if applied will create a better-performing more valuable business for you when you decide to sell. Has this ever happened to you? You walk into an empty shop, and you find the attendant focussed on their phone or computer and not working? With some people […]

10 Lessons I learned the hard way – don’t make these mistakes I have been in business now for many years, and over those years I have started many new ventures. I’ve experienced success, and have also had some spectacular failures! I often think back to those early days in business, and ponder what would […]

Business Broker Andrew Morris has helped business owners to buy and sell businesses in Queensland for almost a decade. As an experienced and knowledgeable business broker, he assists his clients at every step in the process and achieves outstanding results for both parties. In the last year Andrew Morris has sold many Businesses with these […]

Everything you need to know about success as a Business Owner or Entrepreneur What makes a business owner or entrepreneur successful? Is it: Hard work? Good luck? Being in the right place at the right time? Being clever? Genius? Teamwork? Belief? Persistence? Business success could be due to all of these things, one of these […]

The Business Lifecycle comprises: Start Up Operation and Improvement Wealth Management Exit Business Purchase or Start Up Whether starting a new, or buying an existing, business, the following should be considered to ensure you make an educated decision before proceeding: Pro’s and Cons of the industry Business Planning Marketing strategy Registration and licence requirements Name […]

8 Tips to improve the health of your Business OK, you have been running your business for a while now. And it is going well, the way it has always gone. Like many other business owners I work with, you might be feeling that there must be a better way of doing things. There are […]

Key points to consider when opening an online business. Whether you are seeking to start a purely online business, or to expand an offline operation online, there are several business models which you can consider. In this article I wanted to outline some of the various online business models that exist in order to give […]

How to sell your Business for more than you think it is worth. Did you know that many business owners don’t realise that their businesses are valuable? Often business owners simply close down and walk away from their business without cashing-in on the Goodwill that they have built up in their business. What a shame, all those […]

How to grow your business setting and changing mindset Business Owners you must make a choice! In Business, You are Either Growing or You are Dying. As a business owner, you must ask yourself, What does it take to build an enduring, strong company and to continuously improve and grow? GROW STAGNATE DIE Its your […]

Common terms used in business and what they mean. It does not matter what industry you work in, there always seems to be that inside language, the lingo which is usually spoken in acronyms. I am often asked (mainly by first time buyers or sellers) to clarify acronyms within our Business Broking industry, which in recent times […]

Improve and grow your Business now and sell it for more money in the future A small business is an exceptional investment that will not only increase in value with improved performance, but it will also provide the owner with employment, an above average return, a sense of achievement and, in some cases, non-cash benefits. […]

Why you need a marketing program to target the right buyer for your Business for sale It makes it difficult to find the right buyer for your business if you don’t widely promote and advertise. The wider the net is cast, the more potential buyers you will have look at your business. More buyers equals […]

Everything you need to know about Capital Gains Tax Why every Business Owner should know if they have to pay CGT when selling their small business.

Create your LinkedIn Account in 4 easy Steps and connect with other professionals LinkedIn: The Social Media Network to build Business relationships Everyone knows that LinkedIn is an online business-oriented service platform. A network with over 100 million members. Therefore, it’s necessary to integrate LinkedIn into your social media strategy. Here are the 4 easy […]

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 […]

How high is high? Entrepreneurs Never Know When to Say ‘Enough’! Conservative business owners know when it’s time to say “Enough”. How will you know when it’s the right time to sell your business….? Looking back over the more than twenty years I’ve been in business sales, I’ve learned that there are many different types […]

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. […]

Last week three senior Benchmark Business Brokers Nikki Katz, John Kasapi and Lily Small each received outstanding achievement awards from the Australian Institute of Business Brokers. “The Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB) is the peak industry body formed in 1989 to represent and provide support services to Professional Business Brokers involved in the facilitation […]

Many people find the prospect of buying a business for the first time to be a daunting prospect. There is one thing that every business buyer must do when it is time to buy a business. Here you will find out what that thing is, and why it is so critical. Of all the ways […]

Many business owners know the best buyer for their business, but run the risk of ruining their relationships in negotiating the busines sale themselves. Here are some thoughts on how to manage the sale of your business smoothly and simply.  Combine money and emotions and you setting the scene for the perfect storm.  It can […]

There are many versions and definitions of profit. Business owners and potential buyers need to be aware of the subtle differences in terminology used to describe profit, so that they can understand the impact and implications of these differences. Some of the different methods used in reporting profit are: Owner Operator – The pre-tax return earned by a […]

Although small businesses make up 96% of all enterprises in Australia and employ half of Australia’s workforce, small business owners often have no internal expertise to turn to when it comes to managing the complexities associated with staff, despite facing the same people management issues as big businesses with substantial HR departments. THE KEY STATS: […]

ASQA Requirements when Selling an RTO With effect from 31 October, 2019, ASQA, the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector, introduced some changes. Increased evidentiary requirements for providers who change 50% or more of their ownership over a 12 month period to demonstrate their compliance with the relevant regulatory framework, including: The […]

Change creeps up on us slowly. And it’s only when we look back, that we realise how much has changed, and how quickly it has happened.   It doesn’t seem that long ago, we used to lick a stamp and put it on an envelope to send messages, information and documents. Similarly, we used to […]

Planning ahead gives you control. By making realistic, simple plans you take control of your business and your life.  There’s a lot of truth in the saying “failing to plan is planning to fail”. It seems obvious that having a plan is necessary, but it’s surprising (and difficult to understand why) so many business owners […]

1.Buying 2. Operating and 3. Selling   A Retail Business Buying: Choose the appropriate sector to suit your experience, knowledge or passion Look for the right location, brand & price Prepare a Business Plan with comprehensive financial planning Obtain an expert valuation of the business Equip with adequate training Make sure that you are trained and […]

Many accountants will have a basic idea of what their practice is worth, or they may think they do. Most of them will use the easiest and most common valuation method which is applied to many and varied businesses across a wide range of industries. That is the dollar for dollar concept.   What does this […]

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”… “We do it that way, because that’s the way we’ve always done it” These are not the sentiments expressed by successful businesses. These statements were probably the expressions of companies that have gone by the wayside. Companies like Kodak, The Sydney Harbour Ferry Company (look it up) and […]

Surround Yourself with Great Advisors Of all the ways to become financially independent and successful, owning a business is the most reliable way to acquire significant wealth. It can be more effective than investing in property or shares, gambling.  And certainly more than working as an employee.  Owning a business is the most rewarding, satisfying […]

Some examples of what others have done People often ask me about how to best utilise digital technology within their business. The best way to guide business owners in answering this question is by providing some examples of what others have done and what has worked for their business. So, here’s a handful of real-life […]

Ten years ago the CBD areas in all Australian Capital Cities was 80% retail, and 20% hospitality. Today it’s the other way around.. 20% retail and 80% hospitality. In ten years the landscape has changed, and it appears that this is only the beginning. It would be easy to conclude that retailing is all online […]

When you are buying a business, conducting due diligence ensures you have access to important information about the business you’re buying. It’s the best way for you to assess the value of a business and the risks associated with buying it. Through the due diligence process, you thoroughly investigate all aspects of a business for […]

Many Café and Restaurant owners can lose sight of how to increase sales, using Marketing Tools. They get too busy working in their business and don’t focus on a Marketing Strategy. The value of your hospitality Business is underpinned by your sales and net profit figures, so the higher you can get them, the more […]

All business value is comprised of two basic elements; Intangible Assets and Tangible Assets. Intangible Assets (Usually “Goodwill”)   Goodwill is the primary component of the purchase price that remains after deducting all other assessable components from the total purchase price. Before simply adopting a final value for goodwill, it is necessary to understand the different types […]

You need to make it easy to TRANSFER your GOODWILL The greatest fear that purchasers of professional practices have is that they will pay big goodwill to the outgoing owners, – and then the clients will all leave. To minimise this risk, any purchaser needs to seriously look at the reasons why a client frequents […]

Look at Your Business through a Buyer’s Eyes It’s amazing what you’ll see and learn about your business when you look at it through the eyes of a buyer. Have a look at your business and what you have to offer. Think about what a buyer is looking for and what they will find if […]

When will you start to prepare? What is the best time to start preparing for an eventual sale? When will you start to prepare? What is the best time to start preparing for an eventual sale? Things are changing fast right now, and it’s definitely not “business as usual”.  Why not take advantage of the current […]

Like everything there is a cast to properly Marketing a Business for sale When a business is for sale, the market needs to know about it. Otherwise, it remains a secret. And you can’t sell a secret. To reach the widest audience, it’s generally accepted nowadays, the most effective medium is the Internet.  Whilst it’s […]

Entrepreneurship for business owners can be a rewarding journey both financially and emotionally, but one that requires clockwork consistent investment and constant adaption in three key areas: principles, processes and people. This adaption has never been more important than today.  Business need to adapt in this quickly changing market. Business success does not necessarily require a growth at […]