Skip to content

Category: Advisory

30 May 2024 . Michael McGrath . , , ,

Empty offices – no movement in rents!

John Kehoe wrote a piece in the AFR on April 24th about how the “public service ‘ghost’ offices should rile taxpayers.” Seems like a fair point, if employees are now predominantly working from home (WFH), with 57% of public servants in 2023 doing just that, why are governments and others not reducing or renegotiating floor space and rentals?
Read More
Ethical Business Alive or Dead A glance at today’s front page of the AFR and you might be forgiven for thinking ethical business is dead. The calls for Richard Goyder to resign amid claims of unethical customer treatment with the “Ghost Flights” scandal and the illegal sacking of 1,700 workers at Qantas. The leaking of confidential information from treasury to its clients by PwC and we haven’t even turned a page yet!
10 October 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , ,

Ethical Business: Alive or Dead

A glance at last Thursday's front page of the AFR and you might be forgiven for thinking ethical business is dead. The calls for Richard Goyder to resign amid claims of unethical customer treatment with the “Ghost Flights” scandal and the illegal sacking of 1,700 workers at Qantas. The leaking of confidential information from treasury to its clients by PwC and we haven’t even turned a page yet!
Read More
How to Sell a Business Lesson #9: What do I need to do to be ready? The terms “Exit Ready” and “Investor Ready” have become very popular when
26 July 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business Lesson #9: What do I need to do to be ready?

The terms “Exit Ready” and “Investor Ready” have become very popular when discussing what might need to happen in the period running up to when an owner might wish to merge or exit their business.
Read More
How to sell a business: Lesson #8 How to sell a business: Lesson #8 Selling your business is an important and significant life event.
8 June 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business: Lesson #8: What will it cost me to sell my business? Who do I really need to help me? 

Selling your business is an important and significant life event. Few people get to build an enterprise that somebody else wishes to own and will pay a significant sum for.. Often, it’s the most valuable material asset you own and is the result of a lifetime’s work. When it comes time to sell or merge, it makes sense to do it right.
Read More
Exclusivity period-why bother? An exclusivity period is normally agreed upon between the vendor and the buyer once the headline indicative terms are agreed.
25 May 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

Exclusivity period-why bother?

An exclusivity period is normally agreed upon between the vendor and the buyer once the headline indicative terms are agreed. These terms are typically set subject to due diligence and contract. Whilst these terms are rarely binding (although there are exceptions), they do set a detailed framework for what is going to happen as parties move toward a completed deal.
Read More
What are tyre kickers and how you can avoid them?
12 May 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

What are tyre kickers and how you can avoid them

I was struck by the recent article in the Australian Financial Review by Yolanda Redrup, who quoted a frustrated CEO of Infomedia saying he had “closed the door on tyre kickers”. I have witnessed this frustration many times, where vendors become sick of so-called buyers who turn out to be not serious acquirers.
Read More
How to sell a business: Lesson #7 covers the critical matter of deal structure. Once a willing buyer and a willing seller agree that...
3 May 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business Lesson #7: How to fairly structure a deal

Lesson #7 in our series, How to Sell a Business, covers the critical matter of deal structure. Once a willing buyer and a winning seller agree that they wish to transact, how should the transaction be constructed?
Read More
How to sell a business: Lesson #6
24 January 2023 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business Lesson #6: How to sell a business when you’re not making a profit?

Businesses in Australia make an average profit of just under 10% of turnover. However, 20% of businesses in Australia don’t make any profit, that’s about 200,000 companies! In Lesson #6 we address the very real question facing those owners who are not making any profit, is my business worth anything?
Read More
Does Size Matter?
22 November 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business Lesson #5: Does the Size of my Business Matter to Buyers?

Following on from “How to go about Finding the Right Buyer for my Business” we turn to the subject of size! Does it matter? Size is one part of a buyer’s criteria; the short answer is that it depends on what they are looking for.
Read More
How to Sell a Business: Lesson #4
12 October 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

How to Sell a Business Lesson #4: How to find a needle in a haystack?

Having established that the odds are not great; that the potential buyer that knocks on a seller’s door is the most strategic acquirer for the business (Lesson #1). And that in any event, getting in the ring with a large corporate, without a clear strategy and some input is not optimal (Lesson #2). The question then becomes, if there are many more sellers than buyers in the Australian market in the next decade (Lesson #3), how do you find genuine strategic interest?
Read More
Valuations for tech start-ups fallen
27 May 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , , , , ,

Valuations for tech start-ups have fallen. Why? and What does it mean?

Valuations for tech start-ups have fallen. Why? What does it mean? Five months ago, the market sell-off smashed valuations in the tech. sector. Angel funds felt the brunt of the lower valuations and lower multiples. Many start-ups have lost out.
Read More
What price would you put on working from home?
12 May 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , ,

What price would you put on working from home?

There's a “burgeoning body of evidence” that social media harms young people’s mental health and continuing to use it unjustifiable. This issue affects us all – what is reasonable usage and how much is too much?
Read More
2021 More Challenging than 2020!
9 May 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , ,

Is the unstable geopolitical environment effecting valuations and deal-doing in Australia?

I have been asked this question by owners quite a lot recently. The short answer is not yet, or at least not directly.
Read More
Hybrid work, good or bad for business?
26 April 2022 . Michael McGrath . , , , , ,

Hybrid work, good or bad for business?

Companies are concerned about the implication of a hybrid working policy on productivity levels, loyalty, team-cohesion, and longevity. The burning questions are: Should work-from-home continue post-pandemic? If so, on what basis? Is hybrid work good or bad for business?
Read More
2021 more challenging than 2020!
21 December 2021 . Michael McGrath . , , ,

2021 More Challenging than 2020!

Two out of three companies reported disruption this year and many companies are not expecting improvements until 2023.
Read More

Recent posts

17 December 2024 . Content

Strategic Integration: A Guide to Navigating Business Acquisitions

Sydney business owners understand Mergers and acquisitions are pivotal in shaping the landscape and driving growth. Yet, the intricacies involved
Read More
16 December 2024 . Content

Essential Guide to Selling Your SME: What You Need to Know

Selling a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) can be one of the most significant decisions an owner ever makes. Understanding
Read More
13 December 2024 . Content

A Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Your Business in Sydney

Selling your business can feel like navigating uncharted waters, especially in a bustling city like Sydney. With a dynamic economy
Read More
4 December 2024 . Michael McGrath

What’s Next – With Tom Waterhouse

Back in June 2024, I had the chance to chat with Tom Waterhouse on The Troubleshooters Podcast. We covered a lot of ground, but one topic really stuck with me—the big question most business owners face after selling: what’s next? It’s something I hear all the time from clients, and Tom’s experience sheds light on that particular dilemma.
Read More
27 November 2024 . Michael McGrath

Amazon and The Big Two

I’ve been predicting the demise of the grocers for three decades! By and large I’ve been wrong or let’s just say it’s taking longer than I expected. Carrie LaFranz in last week's AFR has an interesting take on this subject. 
Read More
20 November 2024 . Michael McGrath

Confessions of a Bulldust Detector

James Thompson has written a piece in the AFR citing Gary Wiess' advice to CFO’s, suggesting, they focus on the numbers, “of course.” He goes on to say “At the very basic level, it is the accumulation of the financial data in a cohesive, coherent manner that can be understood.” Sounds simple but as Weiss says, “it’s not always a given.”
Read More
6 November 2024 . Michael McGrath

Our Thoughts on Leadership

Leadership is critical. The ability to guide, influence and have others follow you, carries great responsibility.
Read More
31 October 2024 . Content

How to Network for Sales

Knowing how to network for sales can be your secret weapon in achieving remarkable success. At Oasis Partners, a leading
Read More
31 October 2024 . Content

Understanding Tax Implications

In business, opportunities and challenges coexist harmoniously. This is why understanding tax implications can significantly influence the success or failure
Read More
31 October 2024 . Content

Legal Considerations for Your Blog

Digital content reigns supreme nowadays. That said, law and compliance are not mere afterthoughts—they’re vital components you must undergo. As
Read More

Categories