Stamp or transfer duty is a tax levied towards business and property sales. When you purchase a business or property, transfer duty is calculated based on the value of the business or the price you paid and must be paid by the buyer. Transfer duty is in place across all of Australia, but the criteria […]

Transfer or stamp duty is a charge levied when you purchase a property, land, or business. Across Australia, each state and territory has different rules and requirements for stamp duty, making it tricky to know when you need to pay stamp duty as part of a business purchase. Victoria has recently overhauled their stamp duty […]

Transfer duty, or stamp duty, is a levy placed on the purchase of property and businesses across Australia. The levy varies depending on your state, with most states charging your stamp duty based on the cost of the sale or the value of the business, including its assets. Knowing how much stamp duty you need […]

Transfer duty, or stamp duty, is paid when you purchase property or businesses, with a percentage of the value being paid as stamp duty when your sale is completed. The rules for stamp duty vary depending on your state and territory, with specific rules in New South Wales. Recent changes to transfer duty have seen […]

Buying a business in Queensland comes with many considerations and costs, including stamp duty or transfer duty. This tax applies to businesses and properties, with a percentage of the sale being taxed and paid to the Taxation Office. When buying a business in Queensland, it is important that you understand when transfer duty applies and […]

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 […]

Manufacturing businesses are at the heart of Australia’s industrial economy, producing everything from food and medical equipment to automotive parts and construction materials. Unlike service or retail businesses, manufacturing firms combine tangible assets (machinery, stock, premises) with operational factors like supply chain resilience, production capacity, and intellectual property. This means valuing a manufacturing business requires […]

The hospitality industry is one of the most dynamic and competitive sectors, including restaurants, hotels, bars, event venues, and accommodation services. When valuing a hospitality business, it’s not uncommon for you to run into unique challenges because of its operational complexity, reliance on customer experience, seasonality, and sensitivity to economic conditions. There’s plenty that can […]

The consulting sector plays a pivotal role in helping organisations navigate challenges, optimise performance, and improve outcomes within their operations. From management consulting and financial advisory to digital transformation and HR services, consulting firms offer expertise that’s increasingly in demand across most industries. Unlike product-based businesses, consulting firms don’t often have significant tangible assets, making […]

The construction industry is one of the backbone sectors of the economy, with businesses ranging from residential builders and commercial contractors to infrastructure specialists and trades services. Unlike retail or hospitality businesses, construction companies are unique in the sense that they have project-based revenue, contract pipelines, asset-heavy operations, and regulatory requirements. These unique attributes mean […]

Whether you’re planning to sell your beauty salon, attract investors, or simply gain a clearer understanding of your business’s worth, knowing how to value a beauty salon properly is essential for any owner. The beauty industry is thriving, with services ranging from hair styling and skin treatments to cosmetic procedures and wellness therapies, and each […]

The e-commerce sector has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, with more businesses than ever moving online to capitalise on digital shopping trends. Whether you run a dropshipping store, a private-label brand, or a subscription box service, knowing how to value your e-commerce business is crucial, especially if you’re considering selling, seeking investment, or […]

If you own a franchise business, whether that be a cafe, coffee shop chain, or fast-food outlet, understanding how to value your business is crucial, especially when considering selling, expanding, or seeking investment. Franchise businesses have unique characteristics that differentiate them from independent operations, which means their valuation requires careful thought and a tailored approach. […]

Valuing a childcare business is a crucial step whether you’re preparing to sell, attract investors, or simply understand the financial health and future potential of your operation. Childcare businesses in Australia are in consistently high demand due to government funding initiatives, dual-income households, and a growing population, making them highly attractive to investors and buyers […]

Valuing a cafe or coffee shop business is a nuanced process that requires a lot of careful consideration over various factors. An accurate valuation not only gives you an idea of the fair market value of the business, but it also gives your potential buyer or investor insight into your hard work. However, valuing a […]

Whether you’re preparing to sell or are seeking investment, understanding the true value of your business is just one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make. A professional valuation isn’t just an estimated number – it’s an accurate reflection of your company’s financial position, health, growth potential, and operational resilience. Accurate valuations help business […]

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 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: Approximately 18,000 […]

Choose an appropriate area of business for you by Experience, Knowledge or Passion Look for right Location, Brand & Price – be picky Prepare a Business Plan with comprehensive Financial Planning and contingency planning Get an Expert Valuation of the Business Equip yourself and your team with adequate Training Make sure that you are ready […]

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 […]

There is no doubt that a good business will sell if it is: Properly priced Full financials are provided Business information and data is properly documented Properly advertised and effectively marketed. But how do you: Properly price a business for sale Prepare financial reports for a purchaser Document and format data Market a business for […]

OK, you’ve been running your business for a while now. And it’s going … well, the way it’s always gone. You might be feeling that there must be a better way of doing things. There may be some glitches, annoyances and recurring problems keeping you awake at night. When you start a business, you begin […]

Buying a Business? Don’t make these mistakes We often think back to those early days in business, and ponder what would have happened if we knew back then what I know now. Here are 10 lessons that we wish that we had learned before we started!! Here we go: Lesson 10. It is going to be […]

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 […]

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 […]

When independent advice isn’t totally independent The two most common reasons people seek independent advice are to gain an understanding over something they don’t understand, or, to clarify a situation. Whichever it is, it’s fair to say that when seeking independent advice, it’s assumed that the advice is given in the proper manner – independently […]

DON’T MAKE THESE 2 SIMPLE MISTAKES WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY A BUSINESS. Two of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a business are to either: Underestimate the total investment required. Overestimate the amount that they have available to invest. To avoid these two common mistakes, you just need to take a little […]

Every business has a lifecycle, and for some owners, selling is the next logical step in the journey. But when the time comes to pass it on, the goal is to do it the right way, and selling a business in Victoria involves a lot more than just listing it online and hoping for the […]

There comes a time in every business owner’s journey when the need to step away starts to take shape. Maybe you’ve been running the show for years and it’s time for a change. Or maybe you’re just ready to retire after all your hard work. Whatever the reason, selling a business in NSW needs careful […]

Whether you’re planning to retire or simply ready for the next chapter in your life, selling a business in WA is a major milestone. It’s also not one that should be entered into lightly, and there’s a lot to think about. From understanding the true value of your business to dealing with the legal and […]

Selling your business is a big decision, especially if you’ve poured years of time and energy into making it what it is today. It’s also not usually a simple shut-and-close sale, either, and there’s a fair bit of work involved behind the scenes, all of which can make a big difference to the final outcome. […]

Are you thinking about selling your business in South Australia? It’s a big decision, especially if you’ve never dealt with business sales before, and like any big move, you need to be prepared. From legal requirements to market conditions and everything in between, getting a full understanding of what’s involved can help you avoid common […]

Gift cards in Australia are legal to be sold with a three-year redeemable period, providing the holder with plenty of time to redeem the card at the business. However, when a business is sold, the new owners are generally not obligated to honour these gift cards unless the business was sold as a going concern. […]

Selling a business with debt involves transferring your business’s debt to the buyer or using the funds raised from the sale of the business to pay off your debts. Many sellers choose to sell their business with debt as an asset sale, where they can transfer each asset and liability separately to reduce their debts. […]

Selling a business with a lease can be an attractive opportunity for potential buyers, as they can step into the premises and continue trading. When you sell a business with a lease, you can transfer the lease to your buyer, provided the landlord agrees. Doing so makes the transition smoother for your new buyer and […]

Selling a business as a going concern allows you to sell a business that can continue operating in its current state. There are some tax implications that make it a wonderful option for many business owners, allowing them to make a profit while the new owners get to step into a business and continue trading. […]

Business valuations based on discounted cash flow use the projections of your next few years of cash flow to determine how much money your business or potential investment will be worth. It allows you to see how much cash flow the business would see over the next few years, helping you to decide if your […]

Business valuations based on revenue multiple provide you and potential buyers or investors with a clear understanding of the financial health of a business and its potential profits. You can use a business valuation based on revenue multiple to evaluate the success of your business, compare it to others in the same industry, or attract […]

Business valuations based on net profit take the net profit of your business and multiply it by the industry multiplier of your company’s industry to see an estimated value of your company. These estimated valuations help you better understand your company and its chance of growth and can be useful figures to share with stakeholders, […]

EBITDA valuation method determines the financial position of your business, helping you to sell it or attract investors. The method looks at your business earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, focusing on your net income. By understanding the meaning of EBITDA, you can use it to assess company profitability and attract the right potential […]

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 […]

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 […]