Selling a business

Engage our accountants’ tax-efficient business-selling strategies

Liston Newton Advisory
Liston Newton Advisory is rated 4.8 from 32 reviews
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How we help you

A wealth of experience

Over the last four decades, we’ve helped countless Australians sell their businesses and begin the next chapter of their lives.

Precise valuations

Our business accountants will provide a reliable, usable valuation that will give you a meaningful figure to set your expectations against.

Due diligence

Our accountants will ensure all necessary documents are properly prepared and that your numbers are in order for a stress-free sale.

Post-sale advisory

Whatever the next stage of your life holds, our specialists will counsel you through every major financial decision you have to make.

Selling businesses can be as challenging as starting them

Selling a business is never just business. It’s always personal. Whatever the reason behind your decision to sell: you’ve achieved everything you want to with it and are ready for the next challenge; you’re ready to retire; or your business has become a burden for you to run, it’s always emotional to one degree or another. Best to get it sold quickly.

Liston Newton’s accountants will counsel you through every step of the process to help you sell your business in the most tax-efficient way possible, netting you a profit that reflects your efforts and gives you the freedom to pursue your next project.

We’ll discuss how we do that shortly, but for tailored advice, we’ll need to sit down for a proper consultation. Leave your details in our online form and we’ll set up a time to discuss your plans and show you exactly what we can do for you.

Accountant and business owner shaking hands

Engage an advisor as soon as you feel the itch to sell

How much tax you pay on the sale of your business (in other words, how much cash you keep) is largely determined by the tax structure your business operates under. The sooner you engage our accountants, the more time we have to help you make the changes necessary to optimise your outcome.

Using the right combination of company and trust structures, we may be able to dramatically reduce your tax bill. We can also counsel you through knotty decisions when accepting bids; if accepting a lower selling price lets you minimise your tax liability, you could walk away with more money than if you’d sold at a higher price.

The bottom line is that you’re reading this because you’ve already decided to sell your business, so let’s start planning for it.

  • Tax minimisation planning
  • Capital Gains Tax (CGT) concessions
  • Tax structure advice
  • Valuation advice
  • Post-sale financial planning

You have a critical decision to make. The right advice could make all the difference.

Talk to us today

We can valuate your business — and maybe even drive up its price

As the owner of your business, you’ll (quite rightly) feel that you are best positioned to determine its value. That isn’t necessarily true; distance does lend perspective. 

Our accountants are old hands at selling businesses. Trust that we can help see your business as critical buyers might so that you can highlight your strengths and mitigate your flaws.

  • We utilise multiple business valuation techniques to give you an accurate starting price
  • Our industry-specific accountants add context to your sale to further pinpoint a sales price
  • We can help you prepare the relevant financial documents 
  • Our business advisors can help you restructure your business to make it as enticing to buyers as possible

The first step in the process is always a valuation. It’s also one of the hardest. An expert business valuation demands a rigorous process and meticulous attention to detail. That’s what we bring to the table.

An award-winning Australian accounting firm

SMSF multi service firm of the year awardSMSF customer service firm of the year awardIfa innovator of the year awardIfa holistic adviser of the year award

Retire or reinvest? We’re with you for whatever comes next.

As complicated as the process of selling a business can be, in a way it’s only the first step. There’s always what comes next to think about. 

Just as today is the best time to start planning your sale, now is also the best time to start thinking about your future. Our financial advisory team will help you assess each decision and plan for a safe, satisfying and financially secure future.

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Your impending sale deserves all of your attention right now. Still, a preliminary discussion feels warranted, doesn’t it?

Retire or reinvest? We’re with you for whatever comes next.

As complicated as the process of selling a business can be, in a way it’s only the first step. There’s always what comes next to think about. 

Just as today is the best time to start planning your sale, now is also the best time to start thinking about your future. Our financial advisory team will help you assess each decision and plan for a safe, satisfying and financially secure future.

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Your impending sale deserves all of your attention right now. Still, a preliminary discussion feels warranted, doesn’t it?

Trust the accountants who trust our accountants

We’re proud to have been recognised and accredited by leading accounting bodies and unions.

“I’m truly grateful for their advice”

Kieran Liston and the Liston Newton team have been assisting me with my accounting matters since 1976. For the past 47 years, Kieran and the Liston Newton team have provided reliable accounting assistance, which has allowed me to focus on my business in primary production.

Their exceptional service has consistently exceeded my expectations and made me feel that they truly care about my financial well-being.

Brian Downes

Liston Newton has given me really helpful guidance over the years for both my business and my personal finances. When you have an accounting team that you trust to give the right advice, it gives you the confidence to focus on growing your business and doing the things you love.

Kate Nixon
Founder, Kat The Label

Liston Newton helped us move our accounting over to Xero. Their Accountant managed the set up and training so we felt comfortable with the software. We now have all our processes streamlined which gives us improved visibility of our business performance. This has allowed us to open 2 more stores without a significant increase in administration effort.

Peter Luskan
Pandora

Free downloadable advice

Admittedly, brochures on financial strategies have rarely been considered must-reads and page-turners, but we’ve done our best to pack our free guides with as much insight and practical knowledge as we can.

You’ll find quick reads on:

  • Tax-effective business structures
  • Tax minimisation
  • Retirement planning

And there’s always more — we’re not precious about sharing our knowledge. You know how to reach us.

The end of one chapter is the beginning of another

Perhaps you’ve engaged our services before, or maybe you’ve come across us for the first time in your search for accounting advice as you explore the possibility of selling. Either way, we believe we have plenty more to offer you beyond this one chapter in your working life.

One of the things we’re most proud of is the lasting strength of our current client relationships. We have clients who have been with us for over a decade, so deep is their trust in us. That’s the type of partnership we aim to build with every new client.

Choose to engage us, and you’ll soon see that what we’re saying here isn’t just marketing fluff. Peruse our case studies and read what our clients have to say about us in their own words.

The benefits of our partnership

  • 40 years of industry experience
  • Award-winning financial services
  • Guaranteed ATO compliance
  • Xero Platinum partner
  • Tailored business advisory services

Meet our team

Our methodology for achieving financial freedom

We have developed a unique approach to accounting. All our services are part of an overall strategy designed to move your business through the different stages of growth. We call our method Get Set, Get Moving, Get Free.

Get set

First, the fundamentals. We secure your business by minimising risks and liabilities and getting all processes in order.

Get moving

With your business in stable condition, we begin optimising it by implementing goal-focused strategies for growth and development.

Get free

By this stage, your business should be able to support your personal goals like business and property investments, retirement and estate planning, and wealth management.

“I’m truly grateful for their advice”

Our locations

We have six offices across the east, from which we can provide accounting services for metropolitan and regional businesses alike. Rest assured that our services are available to you no matter what state or territory you’re based in, and we’ll gladly make the trip over for a handshake, coffee and a consultation.

Have a minute to spare? We’ll share a few things worth knowing.

Frequently asked questions

Who can access the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Concessions?

There are some very generous tax concessions available to small business owners when they sell their business. But the rules around accessing the concessions are quite complex, and expert advice is a must.

In some circumstances, it may even be possible to pay no tax at all. This is why it’s critical to get the right advice.

To qualify for CGT concessions, you must have an annual turnover of less than $2 million, or your net assets must be less than $6 million.

What tax do I pay when selling a business?

For tax purposes, selling your business is considered part of your business’ income, so the sale of your business is taxed under the appropriate tax rate for your business structure.

On top of this, you will also be charged Capital Gains Tax on the sale of your business.

What should I do with my money after a sale?

Selling a business is a great time to take a high-level overview of your personal wealth situation. So, it’s a good idea to engage a business tax expert to plan out how best to use your cash. Often, a significant contribution to super is made as part of accessing the Small Business CGT Concessions, so it's best to make sure the money inside your super is invested in line with your long-term goals.

With the right advice and the right plan in place, you can use the sale of your business as an opportunity to achieve financial freedom. But speak to your adviser first to discuss what financial freedom means to you.

Let’s begin

The more time you can give us to work on your business, the better we can serve you.

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