NT Ranks Third on Business Asking Prices as Buyer Enquiries Rise 41%

by Vanessa Lovie-Yousaf 22nd of October, 2026

Darwin CBD

The Northern Territory is one of the smallest business markets on Bsale, but it recorded the third-highest average asking price of any state or territory in the September 2026 quarter, at $870,256, almost level with Queensland.

That territory-wide figure masks a clear split. Alice Springs averaged more than $1.6 million, while Darwin recorded the lowest average asking price of any capital city, giving buyers both high-value regional opportunities and an accessible entry point into a capital city market.

Buyer interest is also rising. Enquiries for businesses for sale in the Northern Territory rose about 41% on a year earlier, well ahead of the national increase of 28%.

These insights are based on advertised asking prices entered by brokers and sellers on Bsale. Asking prices are not verified by Bsale and are not final sale prices. They may be quoted walk-in walk-out (WIWO) or plus stock at value (SAV), and may include plant, equipment, vehicles or freehold property.

Third-Highest Asking Prices in Australia

The Northern Territory's average asking price of $870,256 at 30 September 2026 was about 17% above the national average of $740,955, behind only Western Australia ($903,336) and, by less than $600, Queensland ($870,843).

Northern Territory Average Asking

Graph: Average asking price of businesses for sale on Bsale by state, September 2026.

The NT accounts for about half of 1% of businesses for sale on Bsale. In a market this small, a handful of higher-value listings can move the average sharply from one quarter to the next, so the territory's ranking is best read as a guide to where the market sits rather than a precise measure.

Alice Springs and Darwin are Two Very Different Markets

Alice Springs recorded an average asking price of $1.61 million, the third-highest of any regional market in Australia. With fewer than 25 listings, one or two larger businesses can lift the average sharply.

Darwin, which accounts for most of the territory's businesses for sale, averaged $610,823, the lowest of any capital city and marginally below Melbourne ($610,978).

Graph: Average asking price of businesses for sale on Bsale by capital city region, September 2026.

For buyers, that makes Darwin one of the most accessible ways into a capital city business market, while Alice Springs and the wider territory offer larger, often asset-heavy businesses. Because asking prices may include stock, equipment or freehold property, buyers should always check what an asking price covers.

Buyer Enquiries Up 41%

Buyer enquiries for Northern Territory businesses rose about 41% on a year earlier and about 50% on the June quarter, making the September quarter the busiest of the past five for NT enquiries.

The NT attracted a slightly larger share of buyer enquiries than its share of businesses for sale, pointing to solid interest relative to the size of the market.

Enquiry was centred on Darwin and Alice Springs, with interest also in Winnellie, Bakewell and Parap. The most-enquired NT listings included a fully equipped gym in Palmerston, a used 4WD commercial dealership, a towing business in Alice Springs, a vending machine opportunity and a sushi franchise, reflecting the national shift toward practical, service-based and low-involvement businesses.

Businesses Marked as Sold

Only a handful of NT businesses were marked as sold on Bsale in the September 2026 quarter, about 1% of the national total. Their average advertised asking price of $1.18 million was the highest of any state or territory, but it rests on very few businesses and should be read as indicative only.

Not every completed sale is recorded as sold on Bsale. Brokers often withdraw listings to maintain confidentiality, and automated broker feeds can mark several listings as sold at once, so in a small market like the NT, sold figures are best read as a broad indicator of activity.

With a median of 202 days between a business being listed and marked as sold, the September quarter's rise in buyer enquiry may take several months to show up in businesses marked as sold.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

For sellers, buyer interest in NT businesses is rising faster than the national market, and the territory's asking prices are among the highest in the country. In a small market, a well-presented business with up-to-date financials, an information memorandum and realistic pricing can stand out quickly.

For buyers, the NT offers two distinct options: accessible businesses in Darwin, priced below every other capital city, and larger, often asset-heavy businesses in Alice Springs and the regions. Buyers new to the process can start with our guide to buying a business in Australia, and should line up advisers for due diligence before making an offer, particularly where the price includes equipment or property.

You can browse businesses for sale in Darwin on Bsale, or read the full Australian Business Sales Insights – September Quarter 2026.

About this data: These insights are based on listing information entered by brokers and business owners on Bsale and reflect activity on Bsale only, not all business sales in Australia. Asking prices are not verified by Bsale and may include stock, plant and equipment or freehold property. Prices for businesses marked as sold are advertised asking prices, not final sale prices. This information is a general guide only and is not professional, legal, financial or investment advice.

Tags: nt northern territory market insights darwin alice springs