Inside AIBB’s Push to Professionalise Business Broking Through Education
Inside AIBB’s Push to Professionalise Business Broking Through Education
“We want to continue educating business brokers on not only the most current processes, but also from an ethics point of view, from a knowledge point of view and most importantly transitioning knowledge into action.” That’s how Travis Latter, the Chair of the AIBB Education and Training Committee, summed up the role of his committee.
“As the peak body for business brokers in Australia, we are constantly striving to set an elevated standard for all business brokers, regardless of their experience or the state they live in,” Travis continued.
Formal Courses Offered
The AIBB takes people through a series of formal courses to ensure they are well educated. “We focus on taking a novice business broker through systematic education and training that starts with the Best Practice Course. This is the bare minimum of what anyone needs to know what it takes to succeed as a business broker.”
“And then we have our flagship course, which is the Certified Professional Business Broker or CPBB. It’s a big step-up from the Best Practice Course and is the only course like it in
Australia,” he explained.
Becoming a Registered Business Valuer is the premier qualification, which can only be completed by members after the other courses have been completed and the broker has 5 years experience.
Travis emphasised all courses are rigorous. “You’ve got to study, you’ve got to do the work, you’ve got to understand all types of business sales, small and large businesses, share sales, asset sales and everything a mainstream business broker needs to know.”
Best Practice and CPBB are delivered via Zoom, but the Registered Business Valuer course is an in-person course. “So it’s a big commitment,” said Travis, unapologetically. “There’s interstate travel and accommodation, plus a significant time investment. But, in the end, you can confidently value multi-million-dollar businesses down to Con’s Fruit Shop on your local street corner. This course will be offered again early in 2026 and places are strictly limitednext year.”
“And, in some ways, we are following the US model of differentiating between mainstream broking and the M&A specialisation,” Travis continued. “As part of the education and training for AIBB, we’re conducting specific training for specialist M&A advisors.
Regular Training
In addition, AIBB offers two monthly forums. One covers basic topics while the other addresses more advanced issues. Members can attend either or both, and non-members can pay to attend any session. The calendar of future topics is available on the website with reminders included in the monthly newsletters.
“We are building a special members’ library which will contain all the forums we’ve ever done, so members can refer back whenever they need to,” advised Travis.
“This is an idea we picked up from IBBA, and we plan to co-opt with them on more joint education opportunities.”
“We take what’s best practice, not just in Australia, but in the rest of the world and we are in constant contact with peak bodies of business brokers around the world to make sure our standards are internationally recognised.”
“And we have a special offer for Bsale readers who aren’t AIBB members to join our August forums and experience the quality of our education for themselves and save $250,” Travis added.
Impact of Education on Business Broking
Travis highlighted the importance of ongoing professional development in the business brokerage space, “The AIBB has been around for many years, and buyers (and vendors) are changing. They want to deal with professionals who are constantly learning and are up-to-date in their learning. Our training does that.”
He went on to explain the strategic direction of the AIBB, “Now AIBB is making a concerted effort to be visible in the business community, educating business owners on why they should only deal with a Certified Professional Business Broker. Anything else is risking their business and their future.”
Travis further emphasised the role of education in strengthening relationships with regulatory bodies. “Education and training is also putting AIBB smack bang in front of the regulators. Our goal is to continue to lift the professional image of business brokers and the AIBB through increased relationships with the Offices of Fair Trading in each state. We want them to understand that in the position to work with them on any issues involving business brokers, but particularly education and training,”
Travis’ passion for education at the AIBB was obvious, “We want to continue to have the absolute best education and training relevant to business brokers in Australia.”
Annual Conference
Not surprisingly, Travis sees the annual conference as an important part of the overall education and training role.
“This year, we’ve made a concerted effort to raise the bar. We have more speakers than we have ever had, including from the IBBA in America flying over, and the quality and diversity of the speakers is exceptional. There is going to be something for everybody, 100%,”
“There will be plenty of non-technical and social activities too, but I’ll focus on my area and I’m sure it will be the biggest, brightest and best conference we’ve ever had,”
The Future of Education and Training in AIBB
The drive to make business broking recognised as a profession and AIBB as the peak professional body for brokers in Australia is an ongoing task. It needs every broker in Australia to play a part, but the journey will be more effective if every broker is moving in the same direction.
Improved education and training is an important part of that process.
As Travis summed it up, “Being a business broker isn’t just reading a P&L and balance sheet. There’s so much detail that goes into being a professional business broker. Our goal is to always be current, relevant, and to be legally and ethically responsible in all the education and training that we do.”
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