What Victorian businesses are asking: November 2026

By Michael White, Director, Vic Brokers (licensed estate agent, Consumer Affairs Victoria; REIV member) · Data collected November 2026 · Updated monthly

In November 2026, the median asking price for a small business for sale in Victoria was $180,000, up from $165,000 in October, across 222 priced listings in nine common industries. The middle half of Victorian listings asked between $99,000 and $300,000. Bakeries and mechanical workshops had the highest typical asking prices, at $315,000 and $255,000. Hair and beauty salons and cleaning businesses had the lowest, at $100,000 and $124,500.

Asking prices are what sellers want, not what businesses sell for. What a business is worth depends mainly on its profit, its lease and how much it relies on the owner. A buyer will look at all three.

Median asking price by industry in Victoria

Retail shops are left out this month: only 5 priced Victorian listings, too few for a reliable figure. The all-Victoria row includes them.

How Victoria compares with the rest of Australia

Across Australia, the November median was $200,000 (1,066 listings), so Victorian sellers are asking about 10% less than the national figure. Queensland ($250,000), Western Australia ($245,000) and the ACT ($265,000) were higher; South Australia ($160,000) and Tasmania ($155,000) were lower. The full national breakdown is on AUS Brokers' asking-prices page.

What changed since October

• The Victorian median rose from $165,000 to $180,000 (220 listings in October, 222 in November).
• Cafés rose from $139,000 to $180,000, and cleaning businesses from $105,000 to $124,500.
• Restaurants fell from $250,000 to $145,000. With fewer than 30 listings, one or two large or small listings can move an industry's median a long way, so treat single-month changes in one industry with caution.

Why asking prices aren't the whole story

A median is a useful starting point, but two cafés asking $180,000 can be worth very different amounts:

• Profit. Buyers pay for the profit the business makes for an owner, after adjusting for one-off and personal costs. Most small businesses are priced as a multiple of that profit.
• The lease. Years remaining (including options) and rent compared with turnover matter as much as the fit-out. A short lease can cut buyer interest sharply.
• Owner dependence. If the business relies on you for customers, cooking or key relationships, buyers price in the risk of you leaving.
• Time on the market. Businesses listed well above what their profit supports tend to sit unsold, then sell for less.

If you're thinking of selling, the fastest way to see where your business sits is a free, confidential appraisal based on your own figures.

How we collected the data

Each month we read current business-for-sale listings on major Australian listing websites for each industry in Victoria (up to 40 per industry), keeping only listings that show a price and whose title matches the industry, and removing businesses advertised on more than one site. We publish summary figures only, never individual listings. These are asking prices from public advertisements, not Vic Brokers' own sales. The page is updated every month.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average asking price for a small business in Victoria?

In November 2026, the median asking price for a small business for sale in Victoria was $180,000, across 222 priced listings. The middle half asked between $99,000 and $300,000.

How much does a café cost to buy in Melbourne?

Cafés listed for sale in Victoria in November 2026 had a median asking price of $180,000, with the middle half asking between about $115,000 and $298,000. Most cafés for sale in Victoria are in Melbourne. The price of any one café depends mostly on its profit and lease.

Are asking prices the same as sale prices?

No. An asking price is what the seller wants. The sale price is agreed after negotiation and due diligence, and is often lower, particularly when the asking price is above what the profit supports.

What makes a business worth more than the median?

Steady or growing profit, a long lease at a fair rent, a business that runs without the owner, good records, and a location or customer base that's hard to copy.

How do I find out what my business is worth?

Ask for a free, confidential appraisal. A licensed broker looks at your profit, lease and market and gives you a realistic price range, with no obligation to sell.