After 30 Years, John Ramsay Still Loves Business Broking on the Central Coast
After 30 Years, John Ramsay Still Loves Business Broking on the Central Coast
John Ramsay has spent 30 years in business broking, building a career that has taken him from selling caravan parks and motels to handling businesses across a wide range of industries.
John still remains as enthusiastic about the profession as ever. For John, business broking has offered the flexibility to earn a good income while building a career he genuinely enjoys.
From Building To Broking
Before entering the industry, John was a licensed plumber and builder. A series of accidents left him physically unable to continue, and in his early 40s he decided he needed a change.
“I played golf with a mate who was a business broker, and he introduced me to business broking,” John recalled.
John then established his own career in business broking, finding that selling businesses suited him naturally. Three decades later, enthusiasm remains central to his approach. “I still just love it,” he said.
A Boutique Practice
John operates predominantly on the Central Coast and has two brands: Central Coast Business Brokers and Australian Business Brokers.
His brother Ian, who has a corporate background, runs a business brokerage in Melbourne’s Bayside area. They draw on their different experiences when working together.
The business has evolved over time. After the Global Financial Crisis, John decided to scale down and moved towards a more boutique, home-based model. He still has a commercial office, but his focus is now on maintaining a sound, manageable practice rather than pursuing expansion at any cost.
Broad Industry Experience
John describes himself as a general business broker, although his experience includes several areas where specialist knowledge matters.
His earlier construction experience suits his preference for high-end glass businesses, kitchen and wardrobe manufacturers, and pool businesses. “I’ve also sold caravan parks, motels, accountancy practices and real estate businesses with rent rolls,” he noted.
His work extends into commercial property. He has sold and handled property-related assets to major retailers, including Woolworths, Coles and Aldi, and recently completed a Darwin IT business sale involving government contract work. His brother’s expertise was particularly useful in that transaction.
The Value Of Experience
One of John’s strengths is his ability to work with businesses where understanding the underlying operations matters.
He has sold kitchen manufacturing businesses in the $1 million to $2 million bracket and has experience with vending businesses, a specialised area where he developed his own approach about 20 years ago.
Vending businesses often lack conventional tax financials, so John relies on historical machine data. He explained that the data can be highly accurate, particularly for machines that have been operating for 10 or 12 years. He has sold substantial vending operations in Newcastle and Perth, including businesses valued at just under $2 million.
Memorable Deals
For John, the most satisfying transactions are often those that require persistence and a clear understanding of the buyer.
John also recently sold a distribution business worth about half a million dollars. Distribution has been a productive area for him over the past four years, and he sees opportunities in businesses serving other businesses.
The Value of Small Deals
Although John’s work is generally focused on larger businesses, he makes room for smaller operators who need assistance.
When a gym valued at $25,000 came to his attention, he recognised that it was too small for him to handle as a conventional brokerage assignment. Instead of turning the owner away, he offered to help without charging commission.
In these cases, his involvement is limited to introductions, advice and guidance on the steps involved in selling. He does not negotiate the transaction. The approach reflects his view that a broker’s reputation is built through relationships, and that helping smaller business owners can lead to referrals from larger businesses.
“I think it’s not good for your brand ignoring those small businesses, so I try to help them the best I can,” he explained. The smaller assignments are not his core business, but they remain part of how he maintains connections across the market.
A Changing Market
John’s lengthy experience has given him an informed view of the challenges facing business owners and brokers.
He sees uncertainty, tighter finance and changing government policies as significant influences on confidence. He also points to new anti-money laundering requirements as an additional burden for brokers, who must invest time and money in compliance.
The market is not uniform across industries. John sees opportunities in business-to-business enterprises, small industrial businesses, and companies servicing tradespeople and hospitality operators in tourist areas. Businesses with a strong local presence and annual turnover above $1 million can be particularly worthwhile.
Hospitality and retail, in contrast, face considerable pressure. John said that hospitality businesses which once appealed to owner-operators earning $60,000 to $80,000 a year now need to generate substantially more income to attract buyers in an environment of higher interest rates and operating costs.
The Rewarding Profession
John remains interested in the future of business broking. He believes the profession offers an attractive combination of income potential, flexibility and the opportunity to meet capable people from a wide range of industries.
He also sees a need to encourage younger people into the sector. In his view, business broking can be a long-term career, with people in their 20s and 50s continuing to perform well. The industry’s changing conditions mean brokers need to adapt, whether through technology, commercial knowledge or a willingness to work differently.
For John, the appeal is still straightforward; he enjoys the work, values the relationships it creates, and believes there is a sound opportunity for people who approach the industry with the right attitude. His career demonstrates that business broking can remain a rewarding profession well beyond the traditional retirement age.
Tags: business broker tips advice
About the author
