Selling a business
Selling a business in Australia
Everest CPBB helps owners sell private and family businesses across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. We prepare the appraisal and campaign, screen buyers, manage negotiations and coordinate your advisers through settlement.
You focus on the business. We run the sale.
Making the decision to sell is hard; tackling the sales process is harder. Owners' life stages change — retirement, family wealth planning, portfolio restructuring. Whatever your reason for selling, start with a realistic appraisal, organised records and a sale process that fits your objectives.
By understanding your business, your objectives and current market conditions, we give clear and objective strategic advice so you can make informed decisions rather than reactive ones.
Confidentiality is not an afterthought. Staff, customers and suppliers only learn what they need to, when they need to.
What a well-prepared sale protects
- The price — verified records help buyers assess earnings and risk
- The business — staged disclosure keeps trading stable during the campaign
- The timeline — prepared documentation shortens due diligence materially
- Your funds — deposits sit in an independent statutory trust account
The process
How a sale campaign runs
- 01
Appraisal and preparation
We build a defensible view of value by combining economic rationale with what the market is actually paying, then work with you to tidy financials, leases and contracts before any buyer sees them.
- 02
Confidential campaign
An information memorandum goes only to screened, pre-qualified purchasers under a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement, with information released in managed stages.
- 03
Negotiation and offers
We manage enquiry, site visits and offers, testing each buyer's funding and intent so you negotiate from a position of information rather than hope.
- 04
Contract to settlement
We coordinate solicitors, accountants, landlords and franchisors through due diligence and documentation, with the deposit held in an independent statutory trust account.
Selling FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to sell a business in Victoria?
For a well-prepared, mid-sized private business, the journey from launching a confidential campaign to settlement typically runs around six to eighteen months. Careful preparation before launch, a realistic price expectation and buyers with finance arranged are the biggest factors in shortening that timeline.
How is my business appraised?
We build a defensible view of value by combining sound economic rationale with what the market is actually paying for comparable businesses. The first step is a confidential appraisal — no obligation, no cost, and nothing leaves our office.
Will my staff, customers and suppliers find out the business is for sale?
We reduce disclosure risks by screening buyers, requiring non-disclosure agreements and releasing information in stages. No process can guarantee complete secrecy, so we agree with you when and how staff, customers and suppliers should be informed.
Where is my money held during the sale?
The contract deposit is held in an independent statutory trust account, protecting your funds through due diligence and documentation until settlement.
What does it cost to get started?
Nothing. The opening conversation and appraisal are free and carry no obligation — you decide afterwards whether a campaign is right for you.
What is your business worth?
Start with a confidential appraisal. No obligation, no cost, and nothing leaves our office.