Demand for business ownership continues to strengthen, but the more meaningful shift is not just the volume of enquiries. It is the changing profile of the buyers behind them.
SEEK Business data shows enquiry activity grew 11% across 2025 and has more than doubled since 2019, highlighting sustained interest in acquiring businesses.
“Buyer demand has shown resilience through 2025. Our SEEK Business Enquiries index grew 11% for the calendar year, with enquiries more than doubling since 2019,” says Alex Gilchrist from SEEK Business.
As the market moves into the new financial year, the signal is clear: interest in business ownership remains strong.
Demand is shifting towards larger businesses
One of the clearest signals emerging from the market is where that demand is concentrating.
“There’s clear stratification happening by business value, and it’s quite pronounced,” Gilchrist says.
Higher-value businesses are seeing the strongest growth in enquiries. Businesses valued above $3 million recorded the fastest enquiry growth in FY25, while those in the $1 million–$3 million range also saw enquiry growth above 20%.
At the same time, the composition of buyers is evolving.
“There’s also been a real evolution in the sophistication of deals coming through the platform. Corporate advisories and M&A firms are actively using our performance-enhanced campaigns for multi-million-dollar businesses, particularly in warehousing, manufacturing, transport and logistics, and premium assets like vineyards,” Gilchrist says.
“These are serious B2B acquisitions.”
The result is a buyer market that is becoming more sophisticated, with corporate and advisory-led buyers increasingly active alongside traditional owner-operators.
Sector demand remains uneven
Demand growth is not evenly distributed across industries.
Health and medical businesses recorded the strongest growth in enquiries, increasing 42% year-on-year, supported by demographic demand. Other sectors showing strong growth include building and construction (28%), newsagency, lottery and post office (29%) and cleaning businesses (20%).
Hospitality categories continued to attract buyers, though growth moderated compared with previous years.
“The traditional hospitality sectors showed more modest but still positive growth: coffee, cafés and restaurants at 8% and takeaway and casual dining at 9%,” Gilchrist says.
Across the market, buyers are increasingly focusing on businesses with stable demand drivers and resilient operating models.
Demand growth has also been geographically broad.
Western Australia recorded the strongest enquiry growth nationally, while regional markets overall grew faster than metro areas. Regional enquiries increased 14% in 2025 compared with 10% growth across metro markets.
This reinforces that buyer demand is not limited to the major capital cities.
What this means for buyers and sellers
Demand for businesses remains strong, but buyers are becoming more selective.
For sellers, that creates opportunity, particularly for
businesses with clear financial performance, defensible demand drivers and scale.
For buyers, competition for high-quality opportunities remains real. Buyers who are funded, organised and ready to act are best positioned when the right business comes to market.
The takeaway
“What we’re seeing is that the businesses attracting the most attention have proven models and clear demand drivers. Quality is resonating in this market,” Gilchrist says.
In a market where demand continues to deepen, preparation and positioning remain the factors most likely to turn interest into successful transactions.
If you’re considering buying or selling in the year ahead, a confidential discussion with a LINK broker can help you understand buyer demand, likely value and how your opportunity will be received in the current market.