List Your Business For Sale

WITH NETWORK INFINITY

I'm Ready to Sell My Business

Why Network Infinity?

Network Infinity is the most trusted name in business brokerage, helping business owners find the right buyer for their business. We offer a confidential and professional service, and with our years of experience in the industry, we can help you sell your business quickly and efficiently. Our brokers will work with you every step of the way to make sure the sale goes smoothly. 

Benefits of Selling Your Business With a Business Broker

Real Qualified Buyers

We have an extensive database of close to 40,000 registered buyers on our system. We pride ourselves on our ability to connect sellers with serious buyers to achieve a successful sale.

Experts in Negotiating & Problem Solving

Our team of brokers are seasoned negotiators and problem solvers, who will help you get the best deal possible. We have years of experience and a proven track record. 

Market Tension

We create market tension by showcasing your listing to potential buyers across Australia. Our process is simple: we identify qualified buyers and work to create a sense of urgency around your listing.

THE SALE PROCESS OF A BUSINESS

How It Works?

  • Step 1: Information

    The best results are almost exclusively reserved for those who put in the effort when preparing to go to market.


    What does this mean, and why?


    When you are selling a business, you know everything there is to know about it; however, the potential buyers looking at it don't.


    You need to put yourself in the buyer's shoes, think about what they would need to see in order to understand what you know, make it easy to follow, clear to understand and most importantly, do not try to hide anything, even if you think it would be detrimental to a sale, this information will surely come up at some stage. If you were not forthcoming with it, it would be seen as a red flag for a buyer.


    How does providing more information translate to a higher price?


    If the buyer feels confident in the business, they feel confident in you and the information provided. This would mean the buyer/s are more likely to fight to be the successful purchaser. The opposite is true when they don't feel confident; they will most likely want to pay less to mitigate any risks they can see or feel unsure about.


    When you sell a business, it can be an overwhelming process. There are many steps to take, and the broker will work with you to ensure that they are all completed properly. However, some steps must happen before others.


    One of these is collecting information which the broker will compile when preparing the information overview.


    Primary data about your business, including information about the current performance, the historical performance, industry analysis, market share analysis or any other relevant data that may help sell your business's strengths in order to give potential buyers as accurate a picture as possible of what is being sold.  


    Businesses come in all shapes and sizes; however, the need for information from buyers is the same. Contrary to popular belief, a good salesperson isn't what sells a business; the preparation and the information exchange process satisfies buyers leading to sales.


    A good broker will find all the key highlights of a business and showcase them.

  • Step 2: Preparing The Marketing Campaign

    Once the broker has a clear understanding of your business, they will begin to develop an information pack and collate the relevant documents needed for a business like yours. This will be different for every business and every industry.


    They will need to clearly identify what they are selling and create a marketing strategy of how to best present the business and the opportunity.


    This campaign will include all necessary steps to finding a qualified buyer and negotiating the best possible sale price and the steps needed and in what order.

  • Step 3: Execute Marketing Campaign

    Depending on your business, the agent will execute the campaign, reach out to the ever-growing database of buyers registered on our system, which currently sits at just under 40,000, they will also speak to other Network Infinity brokers to see which of their buyers would be suitable for your business and go forward from there.


    Most businesses sold are to buyers that have been looking for over 90 – 180 days actively, these buyers, in most cases, have built a relationship with us, and we often know what they are searching for and what their individual needs are.


    This is why we sell when others fail.

  • Step 4: Qualifying Buyers

    Our brokers will ask for information about the buyer's background, including industry experience, history and financing availability. This helps to narrow down to suitable buyers, eliminating the need for passing it sensitive information when not needed.


    It saves time and creates market tension when several qualified buyers reach to buy a business.


    Here are some things we look at:


    Financial Capability


    Whether the buyer has the necessary resources to access the finance needed. This might be via self-funding, a loan or investors.


    Experience and Knowledge


    Understanding their industry knowledge is extremely helpful; this will allow us to determine how strong their position can be moving forward.


    In the case of a business with a lease, this is also very important. Most times, the leases are subject to landlord approval to transfer between the parties.


    Motivation


    Finding out about their motivation to understand more about the possibility of them making a move forward can save a lot of time with others trying to collect information instead of seriously wanting to buy.


  • Step 5: Due Diligence Process

    Due diligence can be a very broad term, so as brokers, we need to minimise this and keep it relevant; it also needs to be scheduled to avoid bottlenecks in the process.


    When it comes to due diligence, it usually involves the disclosure of sensitive information. A good broker will ensure that it is conducted in line with commitments made on both sides to avoid the information being passed around unnecessarily.


    Having sensitive information handed out at the wrong time to the wrong people could become detrimental to the business.


    You would typically provide buyers information as they progress and keep the sensitive information till it is more appropriate and safer, such as after contracts have been exchanged or a heads of agreement have been entered; this typically involves some sort of contractual agreement being entered into.

  • Step 6: Deposits

    By law, a deposit paid into a trust account is almost always fully refundable when asked by the person or entity that placed the funds in trust; the only time a deposit is not refundable is when a lawful contract is entered into stating otherwise.

  • Step 7: Conduct Negotiations

    This is where the buyer will make an offer to purchase the business.


    The seller can accept or reject the offer. Most times involves some back and forth negotiating not only on price but also on terms.


    Sometimes the price comes second to the terms. We have seen many examples of vendors accepting offers of a lower sale price in favour of better terms, such as a shorter settlement period, less training or an employment opportunity with the new owner, to name a few examples.


    The most important thing is that both the buyer and the seller are clear on what is being sold under what terms and what the purchase price is.


    As in any sale, both sides need to feel they have won to some degree; I can tell you first hand, almost always when a deal is heavily one-sided, it tends to fall through before completion.


    You should always be prepared to negotiate to some degree and compromise so that both sides are comfortable and feel good about the deal as a whole.

  • Step 8: Instructing Solicitors on Contract of Sale

    Once the negotiations have concluded and all parties are clear on the terms of the deal, we will liaise with the solicitors to have a contract drafted that identifies all the terms and any vital information pertaining to the sale.


    This contract will then be sent to the purchaser's solicitor for execution, followed by the vendor. A deposit is paid according to the contract, and they are exchanged.


    After this point, any other outstanding items are to be completed in preparation for settlement, including training, any outstanding due diligence, information exchange, landlord approval, and any number of things that formed part of the terms.

Get Your Business Listed For Sale
Get Your Business Sold

The Numbers You Need To Know

37,000+

Registered Buyers on Our Database

3,000+

Offers Accepted

50+

Years of Combined Industry Experience

500+

New Registered Buyers in Past 30 Days

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ASK

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What makes a business sellable?

    For a large portion of buyers, a business should be profitable. It should have systems in place and provide an opportunity for the incoming owner. Having historical sales and documentation available is critical. 


    To put it simply, buyers are what determine the sale-ability of a business. As long as there is a reason for a buyer to purchase your business, it will be sellable.

  • How do I know how much my business is worth?

    Ultimately the market will determine the price you can achieve; buyers do not pay more simply because you chose a higher asking price. In fact, if your asking price is too high, more than not, you will have a harder time engaging and retaining potential buyers interests.


    If you would like to know how much your business is worth, schedule a time and chat with one of our senior brokers to provide you with an obligation free market appraisal.

  • I do not have any employees, can I still sell my business?

    While there are always going to be exceptions to the rules, generally speaking, if your business is something that cannot be separated from you personally, then you must consider if it is sellable at all.


    If you possess a set of skills that are not transferable, you are the business.

    For example, you are a talented painter who makes a living out of selling your own paintings from your garage, then this would be a challenging business to sell.


    However, if you own the art gallery that sells the paintings and have a large customer base of buyers, then you are separated from the business. 


    You have an asset to sell!

  • Is there anything I can do to make my business sell faster?

    If you want to maximise your chance of selling and achieving a better result, then you need to have the information ready and ensure it is easy to follow.


    Try to have the following ready:


    • Clear documentation on the past and present financials;

    • Customer lists, supplier lists and any agreements;

    • Processes such as training and operation manuals;

    • Employment contracts;

    • Equipment agreements;

    • Copy of current lease;

    • Staff rosters, roles, experience, salaries and any other information around the staff.


    If there is anything else that you believe would be important for buyers to know when making a decision, make sure it is ready.


    Instilling confidence in a buyer is critical. The best way to do this is to make sure you can give them the information they request in a timely manner to avoid placing any doubts or suspicions in their mind.


    Be prepared to answer any questions without creating conflict or making them feel as though you have something to hide.


    Buyers tend to be suspicious, and as there are so many businesses for sale, they don’t usually hang around when documents take too long to be provided, or worse, when they seem questionable.

  • Why should I use a broker to help sell my business?

    The reason to use a business broker to sell your business is because a business broker is there to facilitate throughout the whole process. From preparing and marketing the business, to when an offer is made all the way to the point that settlement occurs.


    You will face many obstacles, and if you do not understand or see the issues as they arise, the deal can go south very quickly.


    A professional business broker will possess all the skills necessary to be of value to you, and they will be able to overcome any hurdles along the way by utilising their knowledge and experience.


    You want them to have more than just numbers on their database. They should have a relationship with real, current and relevant buyers which they can place your business opportunity in front of.


    Your business should be presented in the best way possible by showcasing its positive attributes; they should also know the current market and what price it will most likely achieve.


    The best way for a broker to know this information is through their relationships with buyers and relevant historical sales.


    "What multiple can I sell for?"


    In selling most small businesses, there are almost no multiples that can be used to determine the sale price; there is no one size fits all formula to come up with the amount that will be achieved. It is a prevalent question, and the answer is always the same. There are NO multiples, in my opinion.


    There are just too many variables with small businesses for a multiple or a formula to work. I have seen the same business valued by several accountants and valuers on many occasions with differences in the price of up 300-400% between the lower and higher values.


    A broker that knows their marketplace will be able to give you an agent’s estimate. That most times, is much closer to reality than even a licensed valuer can provide. 


    This is mostly because what sets the value is what a buyer is willing to pay, and brokers are the people dealing with buyers the most.

  • What is an Agency Agreement?

    Business agents are bound by regulations set out by the governing bodies of the state in which they operate. 


    An agency agreement (also known as an authority to sell) must be executed before an agent can act on behalf of their client.


    There are some differences in these agreements amongst the different states and territories in Australia. However, they tend to cover the same key points ultimately. Items such as misrepresentation, misleading statements, disclosure of any rebates, duration periods, fees and business information details are just some of the key points they cover.


    The primary purpose of these agreements is to act as a protection mechanism for all parties by clearly stating what the agent’s role is, what they are representing, any fees being agreed to and most importantly, the vendor's permission to act on their behalf.


    You want to make sure that you have read the agreement and clearly understand what it says before you sign anything as you would any other contract to avoid any possible future misunderstandings.


    You can give the agent exclusive (sole) rights, or an open (also known as a general authority). There is a clear distinction between the two, and this is something you want to be mindful of when signing with an agent.


    When you give sole or exclusive authority to an agent, you are obliged to pay their commissions regardless of whether they sell the business or not. 


    However, the main difference with an open or general authority is that you only need to pay the agent that sold the business. If in turn, you sold the business privately, under normal circumstances, you will not need to pay a commission.

  • Is there any benefit to signing an exclusivity agreement with a broker as opposed to an open agreement?

    Providing a business broker with sole or exclusive rights to sell your business provides that broker with the confidence to tell more buyers about the business. 


    The more your business is exposed to the market of potential buyers, the higher the number of serious buyers can consider your business opportunity. 


    Therefore, more buyers equal more demand, which ultimately drives the price of your business up.

  • Why are business brokers so expensive?

    Brokers are not expensive, and here’s why: 


    If you look at the occasional simple transaction that occurs and nothing else, it can appear to others as if they did very little and got paid a large sum. 


    However, a business broker’s role is to deal with buyers on a daily basis. They must get to know them and their mandates, manage and pay for many different advertising mediums, report to vendors, collate and package the information to present, solve the many issues that arise while selling a business, conform with all the regulations and all the costs associated with being a licensed agent and the list goes on.


    On many occasions, we have heard them say that the agent never contacted them after signing them up, this is rather common, and we refer to these agents as listing agents. 


    They are not brokers!


    They are not brokering any deals; they are merely listing a business for a fee, then they place an ad or two and hope for the best.


    A good business broker should always answer your calls or call you back within a reasonable time frame. They should be keeping you up to date with your business sale.


    The cost of employing a broker should be offset by the time they save you, as well as associated costs for advertising and marketing your business, the market tension alone should in most cases, drive up the price and reduce the overall time of the sale, mitigating the cost of employing a broker.


    Be wary if the broker offers you a low commission rate but a high on boarding cost, or even an on-going marketing cost.


    You have to wonder if their interests are in line with yours.


    However, if you find that you would rather deal with the buyers directly, our sell your business without a broker system may be the right fit for you.

FILL IN THE FORM BELOW

Sell Your Business

Contact Us

Suite 222/813 Pacific Highway, Chatswood NSW 2067

Australia

List Your Business For Sale

Get Your Business Sold!

Get Your Business Sold!

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