Benchmark’s award-winning business brokers help business owners sell with confidence, clarity and the best possible outcome.
If you are thinking about selling, the right guidance makes a big difference. As Australia’s most awarded and only truly national business brokerage, Benchmark offers both local knowledge and national reach so you can connect with the right buyers wherever they are.
With more than 5,000 successful sales, we understand what drives strong sale prices, how to protect confidentiality and how to guide you through each stage of the process. From valuation to settlement, we manage the entire journey so you can make decisions with confidence.
Wherever you operate, our local brokers understand your market, your industry and your potential buyers. We combine local insight with national coverage to support a smooth and successful sale.
With local knowledge and national coverage, we’re here to help you sell with confidence.
Since 1999, Benchmark has helped business owners navigate the business sale process with a proven, structured approach based on more than 5,000 successful sales. Our 8-step method brings clarity to each stage, from preparing your business and attracting qualified buyers to negotiation, due diligence and final settlement. This helps you stay focused on running your business while we manage the sale professionally and confidentially.
Every successful business sale begins with thorough preparation. Your exit strategy needs to be clearly outlined, including your plans for increasing your business’s operational efficiency, structure, earning potential, and appearance to potential buyers, so that you can fetch a better market value.
Getting an accurate valuation of your business is the next step. We understand that when it comes to putting your business on the market, you want to get the best offer. Analysing the current market conditions will help us set an appropriate and competitive price that will attract the right buyers and reduce our sales time. Every business we sell has a unique sales point, which our brokers can help you identify and capitalise on when determining your business’s value.
At Benchmark, with our extensive experience, we’ve perfected our process for reviewing your financials and documentation, taking a meticulous approach to ensure all necessary documents are in order. This includes an Informative Memorandum that provides a detailed overview of your operations, ensuring everything is both informative and compliant with legal requirements.
Finding buyers can often be more challenging than you think, and identifying the right buyer is crucial to a successful sale. At Benchmark, we have an extensive network of qualified buyers across industries to which we can present your business. By partnering with us, you will have access to this network, and we can approach potential buyers on your behalf, maintaining discretion and potentially securing you a better sale price for your business.
We specialise in curating an effective marketing strategy so your business is placed in front of the right buyer and fetches the best price! Having perfected our marketing process over 25 years, we utilise ads, brochures, social media, web, and other forms of communication to effectively present your business to the world.
Attracting the buyers is only the first step. With years of experience, we’ve learned how to identify prospective buyers in the market and that not every interest shown will develop further and guarantee a sale. Finding qualified buyers can be tedious, so we’ll focus on handling the buyers while you focus on running and improving your business.
When a buyer is locked in, we’ll handle the negotiations, ensuring everything is done above board and protecting your interests. Your Benchmark Broker will liaise with your financial advisor as they prepare a sales agreement and negotiate the terms of your sale with the interested parties.
Once both parties have agreed on the terms of the sale, the buyer might want to see the business’s information in more detail. We’ll handle the due diligence, presenting the potential buyer with all the necessary information needed that was previously undisclosed over the next two to three weeks or longer if required.
Once both parties are satisfied with the terms and have completed due diligence, the final step in the process is settlement. At this stage, we’ll ensure that all conditions of the Sales and Purchase Agreement have been met and finalise any outstanding documentation. Once the settlements have been signed, we’ll assist with the transition and transfer of the business into the new owner’s name.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SIX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE PRESENT TO ENABLE A BUSINESS TO BE SOLD?
With these six elements present your business should sell promptly. Conversely, if any of these elements are not present, a sale may not be completed in a timely manner. One of the strengths of the Benchmark group is the fact that all of our business brokers have either owned and operated their own small business, or have been involved in business.
So, in speaking to a Benchmark agent you are speaking to someone who REALLY knows what it’s like to run your own business. Benchmark’s business brokers will assist you, showing you ways to save time, money and effort – and how to reduce heartache and complication. If you have a business for sale, Benchmark will take care of you.
It’s likely that some negotiation will take place with the buyer. So, undervaluing your company at the start could put you at a real disadvantage. Similarly, overvaluing it could deter prospective buyers. Gaining an independent appraisal could be a key step to ensuring that you achieve a fair price and complete a fast sale.
It is tempting to sell a business before it crashes and burns. However, if you are in a position to build it up, you should take a few months to do this. Once the business is more stable or growing, it’ll be a far more attractive prospect for potential investors.
Once people know that you are desperate to sell your business, it puts you in a far weaker position for negotiations. Likewise, employee productivity can take a major hit. Ultimately, this is a crucial moment in your relationship with the business. Try to stay positive and keep things running as normal while you allow your business brokers to do their job.
When presenting a business to prospective buyers, all details relating to the business must be organised. If they are not, it can cast doubt in their mind or make it seem that you are intentionally not offering full transparency. Profit & Loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns should be submitted to provide clarity for the buyer.
Outsourcing the sale to a business broker is the best option for many reasons, but only if you choose the right one. A qualified professional that boasts a track record of selling businesses like yours - in terms of size and industry - will serve you well.
Are we the best company to work for you? Is Benchmark the most suitable firm to represent your business when it is time to sell? Take time to meet with us and talk to us about the process, and your current position. Take time to assess our company, and to determine how we would prepare your business to take it to market. Find out what we can do to assist you to transition ownership – and turn your business asset into cash.
Are you ready to sell? A check of the status of the business, and current market will enable you to decide if the business is ready to be sold now. Or if it is more prudent to wait a while.
Optimise all aspects of the sale process, and manage the outcome. Don’t rely upon the uncertainty of the market, create a plan and a course of action, which will help maximise business value, and minimise disruption.
Once everything is ready, it’s time to get started. And with a professional business broker managing the process, a sale should ensue in 90 days. Benchmark’s “Formula For Success” aims at ensuring that your business is able to be sold – not simply listed for sale.
Last and more important step: Sell the business.
Selling a business is a major decision, and experience matters. For more than 25 years, Benchmark has helped business owners achieve successful sales across a wide range of industries. We know how to position your business, maintain confidentiality and negotiate strongly on your behalf.
Our brokers are specialists with industry insight, broad buyer networks and practical strategies that improve your chances of a successful outcome. Whether you are ready to sell now or planning ahead, we provide clear guidance, hands-on support and full management of the sale from start to finish.
We work with businesses across many industries. Each sector has different valuation drivers, buyer expectations and opportunities. Our specialist brokers understand these differences and can match your business with the right buyers while managing a smooth and efficient sale. These are the types of businesses we sell:
Accommodation / Tourism
Automotive
Beauty / Health
Food / Hospitality
Franchise
Home/Garden
Import / Export / Wholesale
Industrial / Manufacturing
Leisure / Entertainment
Professional
Retail
Service Stations
Services
Transport / Distribution
Education / Training
Health / Fitness
Medical and Dental
Rural
Other
The decision to sell your business is not something to be taken lightly, and there are several reasons why business owners choose to sell their businesses. We can help you determine whether now is the right time to sell, based on market conditions, and assist you in preparing an effective sales strategy as you prepare to put your business on the market.
When looking at selling your business, numerous factors will influence the sale. Whether you want to invest in another venture, retire, or need to sell for personal or financial reasons, we can help you decide whether the time is right to sell your business.
The ideal time to sell your business is when the market is favourable for your specific industry. Some key signs that may indicate that it may be time to sell include: when your business is performing well, with a track record of growth and stability. We can help you get your business to this point so it’s ready to sell.
Buyers consider the future potential of a business when evaluating its purchase, in addition to its current financial health. When preparing your business for sale, it’s essential to have all relevant information ready, including documentation, financial records, and up-to-date performance data.
It always helps to have all of your documentation in order before selling your business. One of our brokers will provide you with a list of the documents we need to initiate your sale. These are some of the documents that you would need to sell your business:
An accurate business valuation is necessary before selling your business. We can conduct a valuation of your business and provide you with tips on how to enhance its valuation before listing it for sale.
Your business’s worth would depend largely on various factors, such as the industry you’re in, your financial health, assets, and future profitability. For an accurate valuation to help you determine the correct selling price for your business, contact us, and one of our business brokers will be happy to assist you with professional advice.
A business’s value is generally determined by a few different factors, which typically include the business’s cash flow, future risk, future opportunities, all the assets the business owns, market demands, and sales evidence. Using all this information, we can calculate an accurate valuation for you.
Yes, you can definitely sell your small business even if it isn’t making a profit. However, this might prolong the process, as potential buyers often consider the financial health of the business when making their decision to invest. With Benchmark, we can help you structure your business sale in a way that makes it look more appealing to investors on the market.
Should you use a broker, or can you sell your business yourself?
While it’s not always necessary to hire a business broker to sell your business, it will make the process a lot easier and, in most cases, more profitable. You can do it yourself, but the administrative side of selling a business isn’t where a broker’s value is. A business broker’s experience and industry knowledge can make all the difference between a good and a great sale.
Brokers like Benchmark Sales & Valuations have a team of brokers with cross-industry experience, a network of investors, and the expertise to create an effective sales strategy, ensuring that your business is sold to the right people. That, in addition to their legal knowledge and man-power, you can be assured that your sale will go off without a hitch.
Business brokers act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers during a sale. Their primary functions include performing a business valuation, marketing the business to the right audience, identifying genuine buyers, negotiating on your behalf, and ensuring that the sale proceeds while being legally compliant and fair to both parties.
In Australia, you can expect the costs involved in selling a business to be your broker fees, which are typically a percentage of the overall sales price of your business, and then potential tax implications like capital gains tax or goods and services tax, depending on the type of business you are selling.
Creating a good marketing strategy is key to drawing in the right investors, while keeping the sale confidential protects the business from early exposure to competitors.
Finding the right buyers involves a combination of strategic marketing and industry knowledge. Brokers typically utilise multiple channels, including buyer databases, industry networks, targeted advertising, and private investor groups, to attract suitable prospects. At Benchmark, we match your business with financially capable and genuinely interested buyers, increasing your chances of a smoother and more profitable sale.
Confidentiality is one of the most important parts of selling a business. We protect your business throughout the process by using blind advertising, screening every buyer and requiring signed confidentiality agreements before any sensitive information is released. This protects your staff, your customers and your competitive position until the time is right.
We take confidentiality seriously and follow strict procedures to keep your sale private. We use blind listings, qualify every buyer in advance and only release identifying information after a signed confidentiality agreement is in place. This protects your staff, suppliers and competitors from learning about the sale before you are ready.
A Business Information Memorandum (BIM) is a detailed document created to provide potential buyers with an in-depth understanding of your business. It includes information such as financial performance, assets, business structure, growth opportunities, and market conditions. It helps potential buyers make an informed decision about whether your business meets their needs.
Generally, the best way to qualify whether a buyer is serious or not is to see whether they have the financial capacity and genuine intent to proceed with the purchase of your business. Their industry experience could also be an indicator of whether they are a valid buyer or not. Benchmark has years of experience working with potential investors and will be able to spot the serious buyers early on to avoid any time wasted.
Once offers start coming in, strategic negotiation and a thorough due diligence process help ensure that your sale is both fair and successful.
Negotiation is more than just agreeing on a price; it involves everything from payment terms, settlement conditions, transition timelines, and business assets inclusions. Having a broker negotiate on your behalf eliminates emotional bias, ensuring a smooth and professional process. Benchmark utilises industry benchmarks, your valuation, and buyer insights to secure the best possible sale price for you.
Once you receive an offer, you’ll review the proposed terms with careful consideration with the help of your broker. With their help, you can decide whether to accept, decline, or negotiate the offer further. If you accept the offer, both you and the buyer will sign a Heads of Agreement or a similar document, which outlines the agreed-upon terms. From there, the buyer proceeds to the due diligence phase, where they verify the business details provided.
The due diligence process is the investigative stage of the sale during which the potential buyer reviews the business’s operations, financials, legal documents, employee records, and compliance before proceeding with the purchase. This process ensures that all the presented information aligns with the business’s actual performance.
If issues are found during the due diligence process, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the sale is off. Instead, both parties may go back to negotiations, or the seller may be given time to correct the issues before the sale continues. With Benchmark, we’ll spot these potential issues before they come up in due diligence, and if there happen to be any issues, we’ll help you and the buyer navigate them to ensure a positive outcome.
The timeline for a business sale can take months or even years, depending on its complexity. Having a realistic expectation regarding the sale’s turnover time is essential when deciding to sell your business.
Generally, selling a registered business can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months, depending on the industry, market conditions, financial strength, and business size. Well-prepared businesses, correctly valued, and professionally marketed tend to sell faster than others.
It helps you to stay on for a short period once the sale has gone through. This makes the whole transition easier for everyone, including your staff and the new owner. However, we can help you cross this bridge when you get to it. If you have trustworthy management staff, the chances are that you may not need to be there for that long during the transition.
During the handover period, you would be involved in introducing the buyer to key employees, suppliers, and staff, while also running them through any essential details they need to know as the new owners of your business. You may assist with training, operational guidance, and helping the new owner understand the systems and processes of the company. Once they have the basics sorted, you would leave the business in their capable hands.
Speak with an experienced Benchmark business broker to understand your options, your potential value and the steps involved in achieving a successful sale.
Selling a business comes with more than just finding a buyer — the process can involve legal, financial, and operational considerations that catch many owners off guard.
We’ve created specific guides to help you navigate some of the more complex aspects of selling a business in Australia:
We have six offices in five states, and over 50 plus specialised, qualified business brokers on our team
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