Business asking prices in Australia: by industry and state.
In October 2026, the median asking price for a small business listed for sale in Australia was $200,000, across 1,087 priced listings in nine common industries and every state and territory. The middle half of listings asked between $99,000 and $365,000. Bakeries and mechanical workshops had the highest typical asking prices, at $320,000 and $344,500. Cleaning businesses and hair and beauty salons had the lowest, at $103,000 and $120,000.
Asking prices are what sellers want, not what businesses sell for. A business's real value depends mainly on its profit, its lease and how much it depends on the owner.
Median asking price by industry
| Industry | Listings | Median asking price | Middle half of listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical workshops | 146 | $344,500 | $209,500 – $595,000 |
| Bakeries | 105 | $320,000 | $152,500 – $497,500 |
| Gyms and fitness studios | 135 | $228,000 | $110,000 – $350,000 |
| Cafés | 168 | $200,000 | $89,250 – $337,000 |
| Restaurants | 129 | $200,000 | $109,500 – $449,500 |
| Takeaway food | 132 | $155,000 | $98,000 – $250,000 |
| Retail shops | 52 | $142,500 | $85,000 – $343,750 |
| Hair and beauty salons | 133 | $120,000 | $72,000 – $247,000 |
| Cleaning | 87 | $103,000 | $50,000 – $245,000 |
| All nine industries | 1,087 | $200,000 | $99,000 – $365,000 |
Median asking price by state
| State or territory | Listings | Median asking price | Middle half of listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 226 | $247,000 | $110,000 – $450,000 |
| Western Australia | 182 | $240,000 | $100,000 – $442,500 |
| ACT | 43 | $240,000 | $90,000 – $395,000 |
| New South Wales | 223 | $215,000 | $110,000 – $375,000 |
| Northern Territory | 19 | $199,000 | $50,000 – $395,000 |
| South Australia | 121 | $170,000 | $78,000 – $344,500 |
| Victoria | 220 | $165,000 | $99,000 – $313,750 |
| Tasmania | 53 | $150,000 | $85,000 – $290,000 |
Industry by state
Median asking price. "–" means fewer than 8 priced listings, too few to publish.
| Industry | NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | ACT | NT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafés | $250k | $139k | $257k | $200k | $100k | $200k | $320k | – |
| Restaurants | $295k | $250k | $295k | $245k | $154k | – | – | – |
| Takeaway food | $194k | $134k | $160k | $180k | $217k | $169k | $98k | – |
| Bakeries | $300k | $304k | $500k | $324k | $185k | – | – | – |
| Hair and beauty salons | $75k | $100k | $150k | $101k | – | – | – | – |
| Retail shops | – | – | $199k | $144k | – | – | – | – |
| Cleaning | $102k | $105k | $130k | $199k | – | – | – | – |
| Mechanical workshops | $350k | $278k | $325k | $600k | $314k | – | – | – |
| Gyms and fitness studios | $248k | $195k | $247k | $280k | $206k | – | – | – |
How to read these numbers
- Asking isn't selling. These are the prices sellers advertise. Businesses often sell below their asking price, and some don't sell at all.
- Profit matters more than industry. Two cafés can ask the same price with very different profits. Buyers pay a multiple of maintainable earnings: the profit after adding back one working owner's wage and other owner costs. Add-backs explained.
- The lease, the owner and the location move the price. A long lease, a business that doesn't depend on the owner, and a strong site all push a price up.
- Each figure is a median: half of listings asked more, half asked less. The "middle half" shows the range where most listings sit.
Want to know what your business is worth? What is my business worth? Guides by industry: cafés, restaurants, takeaways, retail shops, cleaning and trades, salons, mechanics and gyms.
How we collected the data
In October 2026 we read current business-for-sale listings on major Australian listing websites, for each industry in each state and territory, up to 40 listings per industry per state. We kept only listings that showed a price (not "price on application") and whose title matched the industry, and we removed businesses advertised on more than one site. We publish only summary figures, never individual listings. Franchise resales, freehold property and businesses priced over several million dollars are included only if they matched the industry; a few very large listings can lift a median in states with few listings. We'll update this page every quarter.
What's your business worth?
These are market-wide figures. For your own business, upload your P&L and AUS Brokers works out your maintainable earnings with the add-backs explained, applies the multiple range for your type and size of business, and checks comparable businesses for sale in your state.
An indicative business appraisal only. AUS Brokers doesn't provide valuations, and doesn't act for buyers or sellers. Selling in Victoria? Vic Brokers can sell it for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average asking price for a small business in Australia?
In October 2026, the median asking price across 1,087 priced listings in nine common industries was about $200,000. The middle half of listings asked roughly $99,000 to $365,000.
How much does a café sell for in Australia?
Cafés listed for sale in October 2026 had a median asking price of $200,000, ranging from about $100,000 in South Australia to $320,000 in the ACT. What a café actually sells for depends mainly on its profit and lease.
Are asking prices the same as sale prices?
No. Asking prices are what sellers advertise. Many businesses sell for less, and some don't sell. A buyer will base their offer on the business's maintainable earnings, the lease and how much it depends on the owner.
How often is this data updated?
Every quarter. Each update uses a fresh set of current listings.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians of advertised asking prices, not sale prices or valuations.