How to Sell a Business Without a Broker

Yes, you can sell your business without a broker — thousands of Australian owners do it every year. What you need is a process. Here is the one we recommend, refined from two decades of helping owners sell privately.

Step 1: Get your numbers in order

Buyers will want two to three years of financials, a summary of what’s included (equipment, stock, goodwill, leases) and clarity on owner involvement. Work with your accountant to present these cleanly — nothing builds buyer confidence faster.

Step 2: Set a defensible price

Small businesses generally sell on a multiple of earnings, adjusted for industry, location, lease security and how dependent the business is on you personally. Your accountant can benchmark this; so can recent listings for similar businesses on the major platforms.

Step 3: Prepare an information memorandum

A short, honest document covering what the business does, its financial summary, staffing, lease details and reason for sale. Release it only after a buyer signs a confidentiality agreement.

Step 4: Advertise where business buyers look

The major platforms — Seek Business, AnyBusiness, BusinessForSale — are where serious buyers search. Our business sale package ($1,495 once-off, until sold) gets you listed there without a broker and without commission, with enquiries coming straight to you.

Step 5: Qualify, negotiate, settle

Qualify buyers early (finance, timeline, experience). Negotiate directly — you know the business’s story better than any intermediary. Then let your solicitor handle the contract of sale, transfer of lease and settlement, exactly as they would in a brokered deal.

Selling the premises with the business? Combine it with our commercial property sale package. Questions? Call 7 days on 1300 622 300.