What’s Selling Across Melbourne and Where Buyers Are Finding Opportunity

by Vanessa Lovie-Yousaf 16th of October, 2025

What’s Selling Across Melbourne and Where Buyers Are Finding Opportunity

Melbourne might be facing a confidence slump, but it remains Australia’s busiest business sales market and perhaps one of the country’s most undervalued opportunities.

According to Bsale’s latest data, more than 3,000 businesses are for sale across Greater Melbourne, the highest number of any capital city. Between January and September 2025, 170 businesses changed hands at an average advertised price of $551,000 roughly 18 sales a month. While Melbourne leads the nation in total listings and market value, its average sale price ranks mid-range nationally, suggesting a balanced market with opportunities across both entry-level and established businesses.

It’s a mixed picture where listings are high, but sales are slower to close. The market hasn’t gone quiet, it’s simply cautious. Stable commerical rents, targeted government investment, and easing inflation pressures are creating the conditions for a gradual return to business confidence and renewed activity across Melbourne and Victoria.

What’s Actually Selling in Melbourne

Even with the slowdown, certain sectors continue to perform well. The data shows that hospitality, NDIS and health services, and e-commerce and digital businesses lead the way with accounting for nearly two-thirds of Melbourne’s 2025 sales that have been updated on Bsale.

Breakdown of Melbourne’s top-selling categories (Jan–Sept 2025):

Hospitality – 23 sales
NDIS and Health – 21 sales
E-commerce and Digital – 20 sales
Education and Training – 5 sales
Trades and Services – 5 sales
Beauty and Wellness – 4 sales

Cafes, bakeries, and takeaways remain steady sellers, often appealing to lifestyle buyers or families entering small business for the first time. Meanwhile, NDIS and allied-health providers continue to dominate demand, with government-backed funding providing the kind of stability investors crave.

Digital and online businesses have also held up well, particularly marketing agencies, web design firms, and scalable e-commerce brands that can operate beyond Victoria’s borders.

The most activity occurred in Docklands, Broadmeadows, Brunswick, Richmond, and the Melbourne CBD, but suburbs across Greater Melbourne including Dandenong, Box Hill, and Glen Waverley also saw movement. Buyers are clearly drawn to locations with dense populations, accessible transport, and diverse communities.

Confidence Crisis in Victoria

When we spoke to Tony Latessa, Business Broker and AIBB Chair of Victoria, he didn’t mince words about what’s holding the state back.

“Unfortunately, we have a state government that is not conducive to fostering business investment, and it’s been that way for quite some time,” Tony said in our August 2025 interview.

He explained that historically, good news in other states tends to lift Victoria, but this time that’s not happening. “If Western Australia took off, we would follow but this time, it’s not happening.”

The issue, Tony believes, isn’t just policy; it’s psychology. “We are suffering because of the total incompetence of the government. People have lost all confidence in the government and themselves,” he said.

He shared the story of a long-time baker, a client who sold his business, took a well-earned break, and now has $1 million in the bank. “He wants to buy another bakery,” Tony said, “but even though it’s priced correctly and everything clicks, he’s hesitating. He’s thinking, ‘Why should I take a risk when the government could change the rules at any moment?’”

That hesitation sums up the Melbourne market right now with plenty of capital, plenty of listings, but not enough confidence.

How Melbourne Compares Nationally

Across the country, the small business market remains active. Bsale’s national data (October 2025) shows that Melbourne and Sydney dominate in volume with 3,094 and 3,064 respectively on October 15, 2025.

Melbourne Market Insights

Melbourne’s listings alone represent $1.64 billion worth of potential transactions, reflecting a deep, diverse market. But to turn those listings into sales, confidence will need to catch up with opportunity.

Melbourne ranks fifth nationally for average advertised sale price among capital cities.

Here’s the ranking from highest to lowest average advertised price:

Brisbane QLD – $725,299
Hobart TAS – $714,077
Adelaide SA – $674,752
Perth WA – $639,100
Melbourne VIC – $530,716
Sydney NSW – $524,295
Canberra ACT – $562,331
Darwin NT – $500,521

So while Melbourne leads the nation in total listings and total market value, its average advertised sale price sits mid-range, indicating a balanced market where a broad mix of entry-level and higher-value businesses are available.

Across Victoria, the the latest October Bsale Quarterly Report shows a steady and balanced performance, with listings rising 4.9 percent from June to reach 4,111 and the average asking price edging up to $566,449 a 0.7 percent quarterly rise and 3.8 percent higher than in March. Growth was modest compared to Queensland and the ACT, which led national gains with price increases of 4.9 and 19.2 percent respectively, yet Victoria’s consistent upward movement reflects a stable base of buyer confidence heading into summer.

The Bigger Picture with Property, Commercial and Perception

While the business sector continues to wrestle with confidence, Melbourne’s property market is telling a different story. Recent figures from realestate.com.au show the city’s median dwelling price has surged to $839,000, with houses approaching $999,000 a record high despite an investor exodus.

This resilience suggests buyers haven’t disappeared, they’re simply being more selective. When confidence in property rises, it often flows through to the business sector as owners leverage equity or look to diversify income streams.

Melbourne’s broader business environment is also starting to show signs of recovery. The industrial and logistics sector, in particular, has stabilised after two years of volatility. Leasing demand is increasing while new construction slows, helping steady rents. Knight Frank reported a 79.9 per cent surge in take-up during the first quarter of 2025, with vacancy falling to 3.1 per cent across the city, a clear signal of renewed confidence in Melbourne’s manufacturing and distribution hubs.

At the policy level, the Victorian Government’s 2025–26 State Budget introduced a $150 million investment fund focused on advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and health, the industries that underpin much of Victoria’s business sales activity. The package also allocates $35 million for export assistance and small business advisory services, aimed at strengthening the SME sector and encouraging reinvestment.

Still, confidence remains mixed. Employers are managing higher operating costs and ongoing regulatory uncertainty, with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce calling for clearer incentives and more consistent policy to restore momentum.

Overall, the fundamentals suggest Melbourne isn’t stalling, it’s recalibrating. Stable rents, targeted government investment, and easing inflation pressures are creating the conditions for a gradual return to business confidence and renewed activity across Victoria.

Melbourne Cafe Business is Popular

Where Buyers Are Finding Opportunity

Even with confidence still recovering, many buyers are recognising the current conditions as a rare window to enter the market. The combination of softer competition, realistic pricing, and an oversupply of listings in some sectors is creating room to negotiate.

Buyers are particularly active in hospitality such as enquiring on the hospitality, NDIS, and essential service industries, where reliable cash flow and staffing stability remain strong drawcards. Small family operators are targeting the 600+ cafes for sale in Melbourne, 70+ bakeries, and suburban takeaway stores that have weathered economic shifts and kept loyal local bases. At the same time, investors are looking to digital-first and e-commerce businesses that can scale beyond Victoria and operate with lower overheads.

Franchises and well-established service businesses are also attracting attention, especially those offering simple systems and a clear path for new owners. The gap between vendor expectations and buyer budgets has narrowed through 2025, making properly priced businesses more likely to sell.

For those willing to move now, the current market offers choice and flexibility something rarely seen in Melbourne’s competitive business landscape. As confidence rebuilds and funding conditions ease, today’s cautious environment may prove to be tomorrow’s opportunity.

A Market Poised for Renewal

Melbourne’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has always been resilient. Its diversity from hospitality and health to tech, training, and creative industries is unmatched in Australia. The slowdown in sales may simply be a pause before the next cycle of activity begins.

If the property market’s momentum is anything to go by, and if state policy steadies, 2026 could mark the start of Melbourne’s business rebound. Buyers with vision and a bit of courage may find that the best opportunities emerge precisely when others are holding back.

Disclaimer
This report is compiled from Bsale listings and data provided by advertisers. Figures represent advertised prices and listing activity and may not reflect final sale values or adjustments. While care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, variations may occur where listings are updated, withdrawn, or sold privately. The insights shared are intended to provide a general overview of current market trends and should not be considered financial, investment, or professional advice.

Tags: melbourne business data market insights small business