The ACT Business Market is Small, Steady and Priced Above the Big Capitals

by Vanessa Lovie-Yousaf 19th of October, 2026

The ACT Remains one Australia’s Most Affordable Business Market

The Australian Capital Territory is a small business market on Bsale, but its asking prices sit well above those in Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra recorded the fourth-highest average asking price of any capital city in the September 2026 quarter, at $696,656.

The average asking price for businesses for sale in the ACT was about 6% below the national average of $740,955, placing the territory fifth of the eight states and territories, ahead of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Buyer enquiries for ACT businesses rose about 28% on a year earlier, in line with the national increase.

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.

Canberra is Fourth Among the Capitals

Canberra recorded an average asking price of $696,656 at 30 September 2026, behind only Perth ($949,871), Brisbane ($825,819) and Adelaide ($766,090) among the capital cities.

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

That places Canberra more than $80,000 above both Sydney ($614,572) and Melbourne ($610,978). The two largest capitals include many smaller cafes, restaurants and service businesses, which keeps their averages lower, while Canberra's much smaller pool of listings can be lifted by a few higher-value businesses.

The ACT Among the States and Territories

Across all states and territories, the ACT ranked fifth on average asking price, below Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia, but above Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

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

The ACT accounts for about 1% of businesses for sale on Bsale. In a market of this size, a handful of higher- or lower-value listings can move the average noticeably from one quarter to the next, so the figures are best read as a guide to where the market sits rather than a precise measure.

Because asking prices may include stock, equipment or freehold property, buyers should always check what an asking price covers.

Buyer Demand Up 28%

Buyer enquiries for ACT businesses rose about 28% on a year earlier, matching the national increase. The ACT attracted a slightly larger share of buyer enquiries than its share of businesses for sale, pointing to steady interest relative to the size of the market.

Enquiry was spread across central Canberra and the city's light-industrial and commercial areas, including Fyshwick, Hume and Mitchell, as well as Monash, Campbell and Dickson.

The most-enquired ACT listings of the quarter reflected the wider national trend toward practical, service-based businesses. They included a garden maintenance business, an automotive mechanical repair workshop, NDIS support coordination providers, a service station and a suburban bakery.

Businesses Marked as Sold

Only a handful of ACT businesses were marked as sold on Bsale in the September 2026 quarter, under 1% of the national total.

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.

With a median of 202 days between a business being listed and marked as sold, the 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 ACT businesses has grown in line with the national market, and Canberra's asking prices sit well above those in Sydney and Melbourne. 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 ACT offers a smaller but steady market, with opportunities across trades, automotive, NDIS and other services, and hospitality. 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.

You can browse businesses for sale in Canberra 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: act canberra market insights