All FAQs

Question Answer
What if I don't get enough interest or sales leads for my Listing/s? How much interest is enough? Well, technically speaking, you only need one inquiry and for that inquiry to lead to a sale. Realistically though, if you don't receive at least one inquiry in the first week or two of listing, and/or you don't receive four or more inquiries during one month, this usually indicates there is a problem with your Listing.

If you feel the inquiries you receive are too low, here are some of the common mistakes people make with their Listings. You should review your Listing and amend (edit) it if you need to.

  • description does not entice people to inquire because it has been written poorly, is illogical, does not appeal to potential Buyers, has errors in it and/or for other reasons
  • not enough description, or maybe 'too much' description
  • not enough photos, or 'too many' photos
  • asking price is too high, or too low ("I see it, but I don't believe it!")
  • your Listing is very unique and has a low interest rate

    • From our experience, Sellers seem to think PRICE is the main consideration in selling. This is not true. Even if you have valid reasons for pricing a listing as 'an absolute bargain', this will not necessarily produce a quick sale. Buying businesses is not something Buyers do lightly or (even) quickly. A business is not a condo - they, typically, take a lot longer to gain interest and sell.

    For more assistance, please read our information sheets on Preparing a Business for Sale and Valuing a Business for Sale, available to download from our Downloads page.
    What is the difference between FOR SALE and FOR SALE AND RENT? 'For Sale' is reasonably well-known as it is used extensively in the real estate industry to advertise property for 'freehold' sale. That is to say, you will be buying the title to the land (and any improvements on that land), or in the case of strata property, the title to that level of the building. Commercial real estate is the same when it comes to 'for sale' advertisements.

    When talking businesses, partnerships, franchises and commercial properties though, there is another category that (generally) does not apply with residential real estate - 'For Sale and Rent' (not 'For Sale OR Rent' - this is very simply saying it is available for sale or for rent).

    'For Sale and Rent' is where you buy the business component of the listing (this is the 'for sale' part) and then you rent the business premises (the rent part).

    Typically, in for sale and rent offers, the 'for sale' component includes assets like:
  • furnishings, plant and equipment
  • ownership of company and current contracts
  • licenses and Permits
  • trademarks and use of brand
  • goodwill
  • suppliers and customers databases
  • online and social media accounts
  • stock
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    What is the Sale/Purchase Value of a Business? We all know that there are many methods used to determine the value of a business. Different formulae producing different values, so let's be clear right from the outset. We are talking value in terms of how much you should expect to receive when selling, and how much you should expect to pay when buying.

    And, we are talking about the 'business' component ONLY. If the sale offer includes property (freehold or strata title), this gets added to the business value.

    Industry experts use a multiplier of net profit to calculate sales value. The multiplier changes with changed economic conditions and buyer trends because it represents what buyers are willing to pay at that time given the conditions at that time.

    We have more information about value (including case studies) about this topic in our information sheet Valuing a Business for Sale which you can download from our Downloads page, but for the purpose of this FAQ, the current multiplier for Asia is 2 to 3 years ROI (ie, what the business has demonstrated it has made in net profit over the last 2 to 3 years).

    Updated: 5 Feb 2021
    Where can I list my business for sale for free? While there is no shortage of online portals and sites to list residential real estate for free, there are not many for businesses and commercial real estate. Most of the sites charge a monthly fee.

    Here are two that provide a free listing service:
  • Grab Real Estate
  • Craigslist
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