You are preparing to sell.
Selling well is rarely about luck. It is about starting early, presenting clean numbers, structuring the sale to keep more of the proceeds, and knowing what you will do with the money. The best outcomes come from owners who plan the exit a year or two before they list.
Not sure this is your moment? Start here
What's happening
- You are thinking about selling the business, now or within the next few years.
- You want to understand what it is worth and how to lift that figure before you sell.
- There will be capital gains tax on the sale, and you want to keep as much of the proceeds as possible.
- Your books, contracts and systems need to stand up to a buyer's due diligence.
- You need a plan for the proceeds, including how they work alongside your super and retirement.
What to think about
- 01
Understand what the business is worth
A realistic valuation, usually based on a multiple of sustainable earnings, tells you where you stand and where the gaps are. It also stops you anchoring on a number a competitor once bragged about at the pub. We prepare a grounded figure and show what drives it up or down.
- 02
Lift the value before you list
Buyers pay more for a business that runs without the owner, has documented systems, recurring revenue and clean financials. Even twelve months of tidying up margins, reducing owner dependence and locking in key contracts can add meaningfully to the price.
- 03
Plan the CGT and the small business concessions
The small business CGT concessions can reduce, defer or even eliminate the tax on a sale where the eligibility tests are met. Some of them require steps to be in place well before the sale, which is exactly why the tax planning belongs at the start, not at settlement.
- 04
Decide between selling assets or shares
A buyer often prefers to buy the assets while a seller often prefers to sell the shares, and the tax outcome can be very different. Getting the deal structure right, including how the price is allocated and whether earnouts are involved, can change your net result substantially.
- 05
Get the business sale ready
Due diligence exposes everything. Clean financials, reconciled accounts, documented contracts, sorted leases and resolved tax matters keep the buyer confident and the price intact. We help you fix the issues a buyer would otherwise use to chip the price down.
- 06
Plan what happens to the proceeds
Selling turns a business into a lump sum, and that brings its own decisions. Contributing eligible sale proceeds into super under the small business concessions, managing the timing, and building an investment and income plan turns a one off event into long term security.
How we help you exit well
Business succession planning
We help you get sale ready, value the business, lift its worth and run a clean exit process from start to settlement.
ExploreTax planning and structuring
We plan the CGT, apply the small business concessions, and structure the deal so you keep as much of the proceeds as possible.
ExploreWealth management
Once the sale settles, we help you put the proceeds to work, including super contributions, investment and retirement income.
ExploreQuestions we hear most often.
Have a question that is not here? Call 07 3399 2300 or book a consultation and we will answer it directly.
When should I start preparing to sell my business?
Ideally one to two years before you list. That window lets you lift the value, reduce owner dependence, clean up the financials and put the right tax steps in place. Some of the small business CGT concessions also depend on conditions that need to exist before the sale, so early planning often saves a great deal of tax.
Will I pay capital gains tax when I sell?
A sale is a CGT event, but the small business CGT concessions can reduce, defer or in some cases eliminate the tax where you meet the eligibility tests, such as the turnover or net asset thresholds and the active asset and ownership conditions. We assess your eligibility early and plan around it.
Is it better to sell the shares or the assets?
It depends on the deal and the tax outcome for each side. Buyers often prefer to buy assets to limit inherited risk, while sellers often prefer a share sale for its tax treatment. The structure, price allocation and any earnout terms can materially change your net result, so it is worth modelling both.
Can I put the sale proceeds into super?
Often yes. The small business CGT concessions include options to contribute eligible proceeds into superannuation, which can be a tax effective way to fund your retirement. The amounts and timing are governed by specific caps and rules, so we plan the contribution alongside the sale rather than after it.
Sell on your terms, not the buyer's.
Start the conversation early and we will help you build value, plan the tax, present clean books and make the most of the proceeds. Book a consultation to map out your exit.