2026 is Here... So What Did We Learn from Business Sales in 2025?

by Vanessa Lovie-Yousaf 8th of January, 2026

As many Australians return to work and we finalise our Q4 reports, one thing is clear.... the business for sale market on Bsale closed 2025 in a much stronger position than it began.

Looking back over the data, the conversations, and the deals that were done, the year tells a story of steady recovery, improving confidence, and a market that has become far more balanced. Buyers are more analytical, sellers are better prepared and expectations on both sides are far more realistic than they were even twelve months ago.

The Data

Even at this early stage of the year, momentum is already visible. As of 8 January 2026, most business brokerages, solicitors, and accountants are yet to fully reopen after the holiday break, yet 218 new businesses have already been added to the market. It’s a clear signal that 2026 is already underway, with sellers moving early and new opportunities emerging faster than usual.

Business sales data is never perfect. Unlike property, final sale prices are not always disclosed, listings can be removed without updates, and not every completed transaction feeds back into public reporting. What we see is therefore a guide, built from advertised prices, listing statuses, and observed activity rather than a complete record of every deal done. Even with those limitations, the direction of travel through 2025 is unmistakable.

The December quarter was the clear standout of the year. Despite the traditional Christmas slowdown, Bsale recorded 733 businesses marked as sold between October and December, making it the strongest sales quarter of 2025. This represented a 17% increase on the September quarter and a 66% lift compared to Q4 2024, when 441 businesses were sold. Rather than easing into year-end, transaction activity accelerated.

Importantly, this surge in sales was not driven by rising prices or speculative behaviour. Advertised pricing on sold listings softened, with the average advertised sold price in Q4 sitting at approximately $487,000, well below the current national average asking price of around $659,000. This followed a September quarter, where the average advertised sold price rose to $571,000 from $545,000 in June. In simple terms, more deals were getting done, even as average prices eased.

At the same time, the top end of the market remained active. Some of the highest advertised sold prices recorded in Q4 were $11 million, $9.8 million, $6.6 million, and $5.6 million. While most transactions continued to occur in accessible price brackets, these results show that larger and more complex businesses were still changing hands alongside the broader uplift in deal volume.

Across the year, listings increased steadily, giving buyers more choice and sellers a clearer sense of where the market sits. Enquiry levels remained steady but became more focused. Buyers were not chasing everything, they were concentrating on established, well-priced businesses with clear cashflow and straightforward operating models. That shift is a healthy sign. It points to a market that is functioning as it should, with alignment replacing excess.

New Year Directions

As January rolls on and inboxes start filling again, we’re seeing that familiar “new year, new direction” mindset return. Every year, this is when people pause and ask whether the coming year is finally the one to buy a business, expand an existing operation, or make a long-planned change. Based on what we saw through 2025, it’s a question worth revisiting.

There is more depth in the market than there has been for some time. With thousands of businesses advertised nationally, buyers can compare opportunities, negotiate confidently, and be selective. This is not a market that rewards rushing it rewards preparation. Buyers who understand their budget, their risk tolerance, and what they actually want are the ones best positioned to succeed.

We’re also seeing a clear return to fundamentals. Cafes, service businesses, health, childcare, automotive, and essential services continue to attract attention, but only when the numbers stack up. The days of vague “potential” or unsupported goodwill being enough on their own appear to be behind us. In their place is a more considered approach, where clarity, structure, and consistency matter.

As we look ahead to 2026, the foundations feel solid. Confidence has returned, but it’s a quieter confidence built on realism rather than hype. While no dataset captures every transaction perfectly, the patterns are consistent: buyers are active, sellers are engaged, and deals are getting done when expectations align.

If buying a business has been sitting on your “one day” list, now may be the right time to move it closer to the top. The market has depth, momentum, and a growing number of sellers who are genuinely ready to transact and that combination doesn’t appear often.

Interest rates will always play a role in business sales, particularly where finance is required. Lending remains more scrutinised than in past cycles, but it is far from impossible. Preparation matters. The better organised both buyer and seller are, the smoother the finance process tends to be. Whether rates move up or down in 2026 remains to be seen, but what 2025 showed clearly is this: well-prepared deals still get done.

Tags: 2026 business sales buying a business business broker