What Businesses Sell For in Australia
Most owners have no reference point for what their business is actually worth. These are the ranges we see across the Australian SME market: what each sector typically sells for, how long a sale takes, and how much the size of the business changes the answer.
Sale multiples by industry
Multiples are applied to EBITDA. The ranges below reflect typical outcomes for established, profitable businesses with clean financial records. Businesses that fall short on either count sit at the bottom of the range or below it.
| Industry | EBITDA multiple | Typical price | Time to sell | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Café / Restaurant | 0.8× - 1.5× | $150k–$500k | 90–150 days | High |
| Trade Services | 2× - 4.5× | $200k–$1m | 60–90 days | Very High |
| Retail (Non-food) | 1× - 2× | $80k–$400k | 60–120 days | Moderate |
| Professional Services | 2×–4× | $300k–$1.5m | 90–180 days | High |
| Allied Health | 3×–5× | $400k–$2m | 90–180 days | Very High |
| Manufacturing | 2× - 4× | $500k–$5m | 120–240 days | Moderate |
| E-commerce | 2.5× - 4× | $200k–$1.5m | 60–120 days | High |
| Childcare / OSHC | 3× - 5× | $500k–$3m | 120–240 days | High |
| Transport / Logistics | 2.5× - 3.5× | $300k–$2m | 90–180 days | Moderate |
| Hair & Beauty | 1.5× - 2.5× | $50k–$300k | 60–120 days | Moderate |
How size changes the multiple
Sector is only half the picture. The same business earning five times more sits in a different band entirely, because larger businesses carry less key-person risk, have real management underneath the owner, and attract a different class of buyer. This is the single factor owners most often underestimate.
| Annual EBITDA | Typical multiple |
|---|---|
| Under $100k | 0.8× – 1.8× |
| $100k – $250k | 1.2× – 2.4× |
| $250k – $500k | 1.6× – 3× |
| $500k – $1M | 2.2× – 4× |
| $1M – $2.5M | 3× – 5× |
| $2.5M – $5M | 3.8× – 6.5× |
| $5M – $10M | 5× – 8× |
| $10M+ | 6× – 10× |
How to read these numbers
A range is not a valuation. Where a specific business lands depends on the quality of its financial records, how dependent it is on the owner, how concentrated its customers are, and what the buyer intends to do with it. Two businesses in the same sector with identical profit can sell for very different numbers.
These figures are indicative ranges drawn from the Australian SME market. Treat them as a starting point for a conversation, not as an appraisal of your business.
Last updated September 2026