Selling a business in Geelong? Talk to the broker who knows this market.
Berngate is a boutique, licensed business brokerage that specialises in Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast. We know where your buyers are coming from, what they'll pay, and how to run a sale in a city that still works on local relationships.
Licensed business broker
Licence No. 096063L, Victoria
Businesses from $0 to $10M profit
Owner-operated through to established companies
In person, in Geelong
Site visits and meetings at your business, not over Zoom
Geelong is its own market
Geelong isn't an outer suburb of Melbourne, and a Melbourne playbook doesn't work here. Selling well means protecting your name locally while reaching buyers well beyond the Princes Freeway.
Confidentiality comes first
Geelong is Victoria's largest regional city, but its business community is still tight-knit. Your staff, suppliers and customers talk. We market your business without naming it, and no buyer learns who you are until they've signed a confidentiality agreement and been qualified by us.
Your buyer may not be local
Geelong has become the most popular destination for Australians relocating, drawing owner-operators, Melbourne professionals and strategic acquirers wanting a regional base. We take your business to all of them, not just whoever reads a local listing.
Local knowledge protects value
Growth in Armstrong Creek, Lara and the northern and western growth areas, the Bellarine and Surf Coast lifestyle markets, and a manufacturing revival all shape what a buyer will pay. We price against the Geelong of today, not an old comparable.
What buyers ask about Geelong
Every serious buyer wants to understand the city before they understand your business. We build this story into your sale.
| Population | 295,052 in 2025Growing 2.2% a year and forecast to reach 442,000 within twenty years |
|---|---|
| Local businesses | Over 23,500Construction is the largest group, at 21% of all registered businesses |
| Regional economy | $21.5 billionGrowing 3.9% a year over the past five years, among the fastest of Australia's large cities |
| Largest employer | Health care and social assistanceMore than 30,000 local jobs, followed by retail, education and construction |
| Manufacturing | $10 billion in outputThe largest industry by output, and the biggest source of new jobs two years running |
| Distance to Melbourne | About 75 kmUnder an hour by freeway, with frequent V/Line services to Southern Cross |
Sources: City of Greater Geelong (June 2025 figures); economy.id; REMPLAN Economy for Greater Geelong.
Geelong businesses we sell
We're sector agnostic, but these are the industries that make up Geelong's economy and where we see the strongest buyer demand.
Trades and construction
Builders, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, civil and landscaping. Geelong's growth areas keep order books full, and strategic buyers are actively looking.
Health, disability and aged care
Clinics, allied health practices, NDIS and aged care providers in the city's largest employment sector.
Manufacturing and engineering
Precision engineering, fabrication, composites and component suppliers in a manufacturing sector that's growing again.
Hospitality and tourism
Cafés, restaurants, venues, wineries and accommodation trading on the waterfront, the Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road.
Professional and financial services
Accounting, finance, IT, marketing and recruitment firms serving a fast-growing, knowledge-based economy.
Retail and consumer services
Specialty retail, fitness, beauty, childcare and household services riding Geelong's population growth.
Local roots, Melbourne reach
Geelong sits under an hour down the Princes Freeway from Melbourne. That puts your business in front of Melbourne's much larger pool of buyers and capital, while we handle the deal locally.
Across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast
- Geelong Central
- Geelong West
- Newtown
- Belmont
- Highton
- Grovedale
- Waurn Ponds
- Armstrong Creek
- Corio
- Lara
- Leopold
- Drysdale
- Ocean Grove
- Queenscliff
- Torquay
- Bannockburn
How we sell your business
End to end, done for you. You keep running the business while we run the sale.
Confidential appraisal
We meet you at your business, go through the numbers and your goals, and give you a realistic view of value and timing. No cost, no obligation.
Preparation
We normalise your financials, identify what a buyer will question, and fix what we can before going to market so value isn't lost in due diligence.
Discreet marketing
We prepare an information memorandum and approach buyers without naming your business, both locally and through our national network of acquirers.
Buyer qualification
Every buyer is checked for funding, experience and fit before they meet you. No tyre-kickers and no wasted afternoons.
Negotiation to settlement
We negotiate price and terms, manage due diligence, and work with your accountant and solicitor through to settlement.
Questions Geelong owners ask
If yours isn't here, ask us directly. The first conversation is confidential and free.
How much is my Geelong business worth?
Most small and mid-sized businesses sell on a multiple of adjusted profit, and that multiple moves with industry, how much the business depends on you, the quality of your records, and local demand. We'll give you a realistic range at the appraisal. For a quick starting point, try the Berngate business valuation calculator.
Will my staff or customers find out?
Not from us. Your business is marketed without its name or identifying details, and buyers sign a confidentiality agreement before they learn more. Even in a city Geelong's size we're especially careful about site visits and who is approached.
Do Melbourne buyers really buy Geelong businesses?
Yes. Geelong's population growth, lifestyle and proximity to Melbourne make it attractive to people relocating for lifestyle and to groups building a regional presence. Reaching them alongside local buyers is how competitive tension, and a better price, is created.
How long does it take to sell?
A well-prepared business typically takes several months from going to market to settlement. Preparation done well up front usually shortens it, and if you're planning a few years ahead we can help you get exit-ready first.
Do you cover the Bellarine and Surf Coast?
Yes. We work across Greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, including Lara, Leopold, Drysdale, Ocean Grove, Queenscliff, Torquay and Bannockburn, and through Berngate across regional Victoria.
Start with a confidential conversation
Whether you're planning retirement, moving on to your next venture, or just want to know what your business is worth, we'll take the time to understand your goals and show you exactly how we'd approach the sale.
Book a confidential appraisal