Queensland Buyers Remain Active, But More Selective

Brisbane Businesses

Queensland remained one of Australia’s strongest business for sale markets in the June quarter of 2026, with listing numbers rising, total advertised value increasing and several regions ranking among the highest in the country for average asking prices.

At 30 June 2026, Queensland had 3,966 businesses advertised for sale on Bsale, up from 3,816 in March. Total advertised value also increased from $2.76 billion to $2.82 billion, reinforcing Queensland’s position as one of Australia’s largest and most valuable business sales markets. While the state’s average asking price eased slightly from $723,887 in March to $711,643 in June, Queensland still ranked second nationally for average asking price, behind Western Australia and ahead of New South Wales.

The data suggests a market that remains active, but more selective. More businesses are being advertised, and buyer enquiry remains strong, yet buyers are taking longer to commit and are placing greater pressure on financial performance, pricing, systems and future risk.

 

The Type of Buyer

 

That shift is being felt by brokers across the state.

Russell McVey, founder of Business Brokers Network Australia, has watched the industry evolve over more than 20 years. In his view, today’s buyers are more informed and more demanding.

“The days of vague descriptions and generic marketing are disappearing,” Russell McVey said. “Modern buyers want meaningful information. They want to understand the numbers, opportunities, risks, and realities of ownership before they commit to the next stage of the process.”

That observation reflects the broader Queensland market. Buyers are still looking, but they are comparing more opportunities, asking sharper questions and scrutinising whether a business can deliver a worthwhile return after wages, finance costs, rent, compliance and working capital are taken into account.

Russell said businesses with established customer relationships, recurring revenue and strong local market positions continue to attract interest. In Queensland, that includes “small industrial businesses that service tradies” and businesses servicing hospitality in tourism areas, provided they have enough scale.

For Brisbane-based broker Roland West, the fundamentals remain clear. A good business will still attract buyers, but only when the price makes sense.

“A good business, if it’s priced correctly, generally attracts interest,” Roland West said.

This is particularly relevant in a quarter where Queensland’s average asking price softened, even as the total value of advertised businesses increased. Sellers may still be confident, but buyers are becoming less willing to overlook inflated expectations or unclear financials.

 

The Regional Market

 

Across Queensland, the regional picture shows just how diverse the market is. The Brisbane Region recorded 1,959 listings with a total advertised value of $1.35 billion and an average asking price of $688,524. The Sunshine Coast Region recorded 664 listings with an average asking price of $668,161, while the Gold Coast Region had 442 listings and an average asking price of $519,014.
 

 

On the Gold Coast, development-led opportunities also point to longer-term confidence in Queensland’s growth story. While the region’s average asking price sat below the state average, larger listings such as the Beachfront Landmark - Over 4,000m2 Site In Surfers Paradise and Massive Development Potential On Prime Gold Coast show how some sellers are positioning land-rich and high-profile sites around future demand. These are not typical small business listings, but they reflect the broader confidence surrounding the Gold Coast as population growth, tourism, infrastructure and lifestyle migration continue to shape Queensland’s next phase of business and investment activity.

The strength of Queensland’s regional market is also reflected in the national rankings. Mackay and Central Queensland recorded an average asking price of $1.4 million, placing it second nationally, while Mount Isa and North West Queensland ranked ninth at $978,000 and Toowoomba and the Darling Downs ranked fifteenth at $778,431.

These results suggest that some of Queensland’s strongest asking prices are being driven outside the capital city, particularly in regions connected to mining, resources, agriculture, transport, industrial services, logistics and larger asset-backed operations. While these markets may have fewer listings than Brisbane or the coastal regions, the businesses that do come to market can be larger, more specialised and more closely tied to major regional economic activity.

Part of Queensland’s price strength can also be seen in the type of larger opportunities currently being advertised. At the upper end of the market, Bsale listings include a $50 million real estate lease software product in Brisbane, a Queensland-headquartered civil and infrastructure services group reporting FY25 revenue of $74 million, and a long-established Brisbane transport business asking $20 million plus SAV with plant and equipment valued at approximately $12 million.

Additional high-value opportunities include a $13.5 million freight and logistics provider and a $10.82 million seafood group with wholesale operations, a managed retail outlet, property interests, fishing licences and quotas. While these listings sit well above the average business-for-sale price, they help explain why Queensland continues to rank highly nationally, with the market supported by asset-backed, scalable and specialist businesses across transport, infrastructure, technology, food distribution and regional industry.

 

The Deals That are Happening

 

In North Queensland, Susan Butler of Beyond 2000 has spent more than 22 years helping owners bring businesses to market. She said the region continues to attract lifestyle-focused buyers, particularly those relocating from southern states.

“Our region continues to attract lifestyle-focused buyers, particularly people relocating from southern states who are drawn to the climate, affordability, and lifestyle opportunities,” Susan Butler said.

However, lifestyle is not enough on its own. Susan said buyers are still focused on fundamentals, especially in the current environment.

“Quality businesses with consistent profits, reasonable rent, and systems that reduce reliance on the owner are particularly appealing,” Susan Butler said.

That comment speaks to a broader trend across Queensland. Buyers may be attracted by the state’s lifestyle, population growth and regional opportunities, but they still need the numbers to work. Clean financials, reliable earnings and reduced owner dependence are becoming increasingly important as finance conditions remain more difficult.

For Dione Mauric and Stephen Wolff of Advantage Business Sales & Valuations, preparation is one of the biggest factors in whether a transaction moves forward. Their brokerage operates with a dual approach, combining Stephen’s financial analysis with Dione’s communication and negotiation focus.

“Stephen’s the detailed guy,” Dione Mauric said. “He makes sure everything is perfect because surprises kill deals. I do the communication between buyers and sellers and the negotiation.”

The phrase “surprises kill deals” is especially relevant in the current market. When buyers are more cautious, unresolved issues can quickly become deal breakers. Poor records, unclear leases, overreliance on the owner, incomplete documentation or unrealistic pricing can all slow momentum or cause buyers to walk away.

Dustin Slypen of LINK Brisbane has also seen the market become more sophisticated. Known for handling complex transactions, he believes deals are still happening, but the buyer pool has changed.

“We’re dealing with fewer buyers, but better quality buyers,” Dustin Slypen said.

He noted that many buyers are now more experienced, better funded or more strategic in their approach. But that does not mean transactions are easier. Often, the work begins after a buyer has been found, as due diligence, finance, legal review and stakeholder negotiations can create additional pressure.

“A good business broker is a marriage counsellor, a psychologist, a financial planner, a lawyer,” Dustin said.

For sellers, the message is simple: getting buyer interest is only one part of the process. Getting a deal completed requires preparation, communication and the ability to manage problems as they arise.

Davina Lacey of Stockbridge Business Brokers sees the emotional side of selling as equally important. Having owned businesses herself, she understands that a sale is rarely just a financial transaction.

“You put everything into it,” Davina Lacey said. “There are humans involved.”

Davina said buyer confidence can move in waves, often responding to interest rates, political announcements and broader economic conditions. But hesitation does not mean the market has stopped.

“Everyone sort of withdraws,” Davina said. “Then confidence goes back up and the world’s still moving as usual.”

That view aligns with Queensland’s June quarter performance. The market is still moving, but buyers are more measured.

For larger transactions, Brisbane-based broker Arnold P Kelsey believes positioning and presentation can dramatically influence results. He recently worked with a highly profitable industrial equipment importing and distribution business that had previously sat on the market for a year without meaningful interest. After being repositioned and relisted, the business was under contract within 31 days at double the previous asking price.

“The ads did not reflect what the business was and therefore did not attract any interest,” Arnold P Kelsey said.

For Arnold, the lesson is clear. A good business is not enough if the market does not understand what makes it valuable. Accurate valuation, strong positioning and experienced deal management all matter, particularly in Queensland’s higher-value and more specialised sectors.

He also believes trust remains central to business broking.

“We only have one thing, our reputation,” Arnold said. “I don’t ever want anybody feeling like I’ve pushed them or bullied them into buying a business.”

 

Where Queensland is Heading

Looking ahead, Queensland’s next five years are likely to be shaped by population growth, lifestyle migration, tourism, regional industry and the infrastructure pipeline connected to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queensland Government’s 2032 Delivery Plan is focused on building venues, roads and infrastructure for the decades ahead, while the Australian Government has committed up to $3.435 billion toward Games venue infrastructure projects across the state.

For business buyers and sellers, this creates a broader growth backdrop, particularly for sectors connected to construction, trades, transport, logistics, accommodation, hospitality, tourism, professional services and regional supply chains.

But opportunity does not remove the need for discipline. Queensland’s June quarter results show a market with depth, value and ongoing buyer interest. They also show a market where buyers are more discerning and sellers need to be better prepared.

For business owners considering an exit, the message from the data and the brokers is consistent. The market remains open, but it is less forgiving. Businesses with clean financials, realistic pricing, strong systems and a clear story are better positioned to turn buyer interest into a completed sale.

Queensland remains one of Australia’s most important business sales markets. As the new financial year begins, its strength lies not only in the number of businesses for sale, but in the quality, diversity and scale of opportunities coming to market across the state.

Tags: queensland brisbane business sales market insights qld

About the author

---

---