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From the beginning Ian Haggerty was very professional and in every conversation he demonstrated his industry knowledge and expertise as a broker. Des Pawelski , 12 Aug 2020 I have been in business for 51 years as cladding contractor with up to 100 employees who work in a factory and on larger commercial building sites. Two years ago I reached the stage where I felt that I should look to sell the business and started meeting with business brokers who advertised in the newspaper’s classified and on Google. None of the brokers seemed to genuinely understand my business or how to find a buyer. Late last year a competitor from another state phoned and said that he was interested in selling his business. He mentioned talking with a broker who was putting together a number of similar contracting businesses to sell to an investment group. Soon after, I was in contact with Ian Haggerty of Benchmark Corporate based in Queensland. From the beginning Ian was very professional and in every conversation he demonstrated his industry knowledge and expertise as a broker. Ian took the time to understand my position and then pointed out the advantages and pitfalls in selling my business. We discussed a marketing plan along with an Information Memorandum showing what the business had done in the past, the future potential and the asset/liability position. Things were looking promising. An advantage of the Benchmark organisation is that they have over 65 brokers operating throughout Australia and a huge buyer data base of potential buyers who have looked at businesses they had for sale in the past. From this pool we soon had prospective purchasers looking over the business, some expressed interest, others thought that the type of business was too hands on for them as every contract we perform is a bit different. In February the COVID virus struck causing major delays on a number of our larger projects, which caused significant cash flow issues. Things were looking grim and my hopes of a sale started to diminish. I consulted with a liquidator over insolvency concerns and administration was recommended (my cashflow had halved). Selling my business now appeared impossible - the employee accruals from long serving workers was a significant problem. I informed Ian that I had sought the advice of a liquidator and was intending on placing the company into administration. Ian strongly advised against taking such drastic action and recommended an immediate consultation with ReGroup Solutions, a firm of Turnaround Practitioners. Ian had worked with the ReGroup team previously and gotten excellent results. ReGroup Solutions provided excellent financial advice and guidance and I was able to regain control of trading operations. I then contacted some local businesses (who Ian had contacted previously) and was able to inform them that the crisis situation had been resolved and I was now able to continue trading whilst exploring offers for a sale of the business. Out of the multiple enquiries Ian received, we were left with two companies with serious offers on the table (despite this being around the time of the COVID virus outbreak). Ian collaborated with ReGroup Solutions and set about negotiating with the interested parties. Due to Ian’s involvement and assistance from ReGroup Solutions, we finally agreed a fair market sale of the business and the majority of employees jobs were saved. Ian went beyond the call of duty and negotiated a very reasonable two year consultancy position with the purchaser.   With the pandemic, these are very turbulent times. If you are concerned about succession or looking to sell your business, then I highly recommend Ian Haggerty from Benchmark. Ian is extremely adept at strategically managing the negotiations, assessing the genuineness of prospective buyers and then closing the best deal for his client. Ian’s approach was professional and he maintains strict confidentiality throughout. Ian understood the opportunity and potential for my business and then presented this to prospective buyers in the best light. Thanks Ian and Benchmark. Ian Haggerty receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. Before joining the team at Benchmark (as a senior business broker), Ian was QLD State manager for Flow Systems (part of the Brookfield group) where he created dynamic growth opportunities for developers within the residential and commercial property markets. Prior to Flow, Ian was also at Trility, (part of Mitsubishi) Australia’s third largest water company, and was Head of Strategic Growth. Ian developed strategies for the company’s growth from 120 employees to over 400 employees today, including sourcing joint venture arrangements and value added acquisitions. Get to know more about Ian Haggerty and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. Ian Haggerty is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Kathy Edgar , 01 Jan 2018 I bought a salon previously through a different broker, but I had spoken to Benchmark in the past and knew they had the inside knowledge and professionalism to get my salon sold. I decide to list it with them and got a great result, we even organised settlement after the Christmas trade, which was a big bonus for me to keep the Christmas dollars. I’m now able to make a fresh start in 2018 – Thank you Benchmark.

I found Ian and the Benchmark team to be extremely professional, helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. They were always quick to respond and provided valuable guidance whenever it was needed. I would highly recommend Ian and the Benchmark team to anyone looking to buy or sell a business. Thanks for everything - Bruce -

Making the decision to sell a business can be a daunting exercise in its own right, i.e., what is my business worth, How will I market the business, What vehicles will I use to achieve the best outcome, Who and what is my market, How do I distinguish between a legitimate buyer and tyre kickers (whom there will be an overabundance of), What details do I need to provide, How do I protect the integrity of my business during this process and so on? For a fleeting moment, we thought that marrying our business up with a suitable buyer was something within our capability. If only it was that simple. We then decided to seek out a Broker/Agent who would partner with us to achieve our goal of selling our business. A specialist whom would possess; an intimate understanding of our industry had a track record of selling similar businesses had a clear understanding of how to effectively promote our business, (in collaboration with us)set a fair asking price that would create both buyer interest and meet an outcome that would satisfy our expectations and importantly, be empathetic and possess exceptional listening skills After considerable research, we found such a specialist who met our brief perfectly; Jacob Reeson (Service Station Specialist) from Benchmark Business. Our decision to engage Jacob was quickly credentialed during our 1st ‘Face to Face’ meeting. Jacob is unbelievably professional on every level. Jacob’s plan of how we could achieve a favourable outcome was highly detailed, well thought out and above all collaborative. From the outset, we had a roadmap of how the process would unfold. Thanks to Jacob’s tenacity, knowledge and focus he was able to engage a number of interested parties which resulted in a contract and eventual sale, achieving a sale price reflective of the business value. Jacob continued to manage the process right through to settlement. He was present at the site during settlement to ensure the handover was seamless. Benchmark Business and Jacob Reeson are representative of a well-oiled, highly ethical and professional operation. I would most definitely recommend to any person or organisation considering selling their business to give Benchmark Business a call. Jeff and Elaine Martin

Kurt achieved where others failed. Kurt had a buyer for our business in the first 5 months that it was in his hands. It shows his dedication to his clients. We are so happy that we had Kurt guide us throughout this process and would definitely recommend anyone looking to sell their business.

"I found John professional and informative throughout the buying process. John was great when dealing with my accountant during the transaction and communicating with my lawyer to ensure a smooth sale. I’m delighted with my purchase and thank you for making this so easy." John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John really prides himself on offering his clients exceptional customer service, combined with his wealth of sales and industry knowledge. He has “been there and done that”, as he has owned his own business, and he has worked in many top salons around the world – and has experienced everything this industry has to offer. Get to know more about John Kasapi and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. John Kasapi is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Mick navigated methodically through the sale of our business. He was professional, willing and in control of the process. Mick is a nice guy who is very easy to work with and kept us in the picture throughout the full 6 month process. We had a good experience with Benchmark. - Christopher Exindaris | August 22. Mick Godwin receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. Mick Godwin has started, grown and successfully sold his own business and through that process saw a huge opportunity to better serve other business owners in the sales process. Currently undertaking a Masters in Business, majoring in finance and strategy, Mick has over 10 years of experience in business management and entrepreneurship. With the unique advantage of combining practical and academic experience, Mick enjoys investigating and understanding a company's value in the market by researching and understanding value further than what the company's written down value suggests it is worth. Get to know more about Mick Godwin and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. Mick Godwin is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

"John Kasapi has delivered an exceptional price for our business in a tough challenging market. Not only did he deliver a sensational result. He was critical in managing the sales process and throughout. There was moments through the transition I thought this would never happen. Communication between the buyer and seller was excellent and while managing two very difficult lawyers on either side. if you are looking at selling a good business in Sydney, I would not look anywhere else, but John Kasapi from Benchmrk . Thank you very much look forward to having a beer with you." Peter Theochari. John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John Kasapi specialises in the sale of hair and beauty salons across all states in Australia. He has more than 15 years of experience working in the hair and beauty industry – so he really knows and understands the industry and the marketplace much better than most. Get to know more about John Kasapi and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. John Kasapi is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

"Thanks, you John for your helping in getting us our first skin clinic business. We had a few sticking points in the process however John solved the problems with a few creative solutions. Thanks again for your help." - Anil Thomas | 06 Feb 2020 John Kasapi receives another Benchmark Business Sales Review. John really prides himself on offering his clients exceptional customer service, combined with his wealth of sales and industry knowledge. He has “been there and done that”, as he has owned his own business, and he has worked in many top salons around the world – and has experienced everything this industry has to offer. Get to know more about John Kasapi and his accomplishments by clicking the "View Profile" button below. Additionally, you can read other Benchmark Business Sales Testimonials from the "Broker" section above. John Kasapi is a business broker at Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations.

Glenn Irving from Benchmark Business Brokers worked tirelessly to achieve a great sales outcome for us. Glenn achieved our asking price and made the process as hassle free as possible in what was, at times, a complicated sale. Thanks Glenn - Scott