Why Every Business Sale Needs a Lawyer (and an Accountant)
If you’ve been thinking about buying or selling a business in 2025, you’re not the only one. The first few months of the year have brought promising signs for business owners planning an exit and entrepreneurs looking for their next opportunity. With a stabilising economy, anticipated interest rate cuts, and a regulatory shake-up coming in 2026, now could be an ideal time to act.
While timing and preparation are critical, having the right team in your corner can make all the difference. At Ascent Accountants, we regularly work with businesses navigating sales and acquisitions — and one of the smartest moves you can make is bringing a lawyer into the process early.
What’s Happening in the Market?
Three things are happening — a stabilising economy (finally!), future regulatory changes, and strong buyer interest.
- A stabilising economy. Lower inflation and the possibility of interest rate cuts are making business acquisitions more accessible. This means a broader pool of qualified buyers for sellers, and more attractive financing for buyers.
- Regulatory changes ahead. New business transfer regulations will roll out in January 2026. Completing a transaction before then could save time and reduce complexity for both parties.
- Strong buyer interest. Private investors and cashed-up buyers are actively seeking opportunities. If you’re selling, this could mean multiple offers. If you’re buying, there are great businesses available across various industries.
How a Lawyer can help.
Whether you’re buying or selling, legal advice isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
- Transaction support. A lawyer can guide you from initial negotiations through to final settlement, helping draft and review contracts, flagging critical clauses, and ensuring everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.
- Risk assessment. Before you commit to anything, a Lawyer can help assess any legal, financial, or operational risks that may be buried in the business’s paperwork. This protects you from costly surprises down the line.
- Regulatory guidance. With changes on the horizon, it’s crucial to ensure your transaction complies with current laws while preparing for what’s next. A Lawyer stays across these developments so you don’t have to.
- Strategic insight. A Lawyer who understands business transactions (not all have expertise in this area) can offer practical advice beyond the legal paperwork—like how to structure the deal, manage handovers, or handle staff transitions.
Where Ascent Accountants come in.
Obviously, a business sale is as much a financial transaction as it is a legal one. Our team at Ascent Accountants helps clients:
- Prepare and present accurate financials.
- Conduct valuations to ensure a fair price.
- Structure deals in a tax-effective way.
- Liaise with legal professionals to streamline the process.
We often work hand-in-hand with lawyers to give our clients a seamless experience — ensuring the financial and legal elements of the sale are aligned.
Thinking of buying or selling a business in 2025?
Now’s the time to get the right advice. Ascent Accountants can help you understand your numbers, evaluate opportunities, and connect you with experienced legal professionals to support your journey.
Get in touch with us today to plan your next move with confidence, or contact Vitalis Legal directly.
Need help with your accounting?
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Buying and selling property rarely lines up perfectly. The logistics of it all can be incredibly stressful. If you’ve found the perfect next home but haven’t sold your current one yet, a bridging loan can make your move easier, without having to wait on your current property sale. What is a bridging loan? A bridging loan is a short-term loan that gives you the funds to buy a new property before your current property has sold. It’s designed to bridge the gap between buying and selling. These loans are generally interest-only and are typically offered for up to 12 months, giving you time to sell and settle on your current home while already owning the next one. When would I need a bridging loan? You might consider bridging finance if: You’ve found your next home but haven’t yet sold your current one. You want to avoid renting or moving twice between sales. You want more time to prepare your home for market to get the best sale price. You're building a new home while still living in your existing one. How does it work? Peak Debt: The lender combines your current mortgage, the cost of the new property (including stamp duty and legal fees), and any interest (if it’s being capitalised). This total is known as your Peak Debt. Interest Only: During the bridging period, you’ll typically pay interest only — or the interest may be capitalised (meaning it’s added to your loan rather than paid upfront). Sell Your Property: Once you sell your existing home, the sale proceeds are used to reduce your Peak Debt. End Debt: The remaining balance becomes your End Debt, which then continues as a standard mortgage. An example of a bridging loan. Your current home loan = $200,000 New home = $800,000 Total bridging loan (Peak Debt) = $1,000,000 After selling your home for $600,000, that amount is used to pay down your loan Remaining loan (End Debt) = $400,000 Things to consider. Like any major financial decision, it’s important to understand all the moving parts before you commit. Time pressure: You typically have 6–12 months to sell. If you don’t sell in time, the lender may step in to sell the property and/or charge default interest. This is an extra interest rate that a lender charges when you fail to meet your loan obligations — in this case, not selling your property within the agreed timeframe. Interest costs: If interest is capitalised, it means you're not making repayments during the loan period, so the interest gets added to the loan balance instead of being paid separately. This means your loan grows each month. Making even small repayments can help keep this under control. Equity & serviceability: Lenders will assess how much equity you have and whether you can manage the loan during the bridging period. Loan-to-value ratio: If your End Debt ends up being more than 80% of the new property’s value, you may have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Existing loan setup: If your current lender doesn’t offer bridging loans, refinancing may be required — sometimes triggering break fees if your existing loan is fixed. This means you may have to pay a penalty if you end a fixed-rate home loan early (before the agreed term is up). Is a bridging loan right for you? That’s the big question. Bridging finance can offer flexibility and peace of mind, helping you move forward with confidence rather than being held back by uncertain sale timing. But it’s not without risk or cost — so it’s vital to understand the structure, timeframe, and repayment expectations. If you’re considering your next property move and want tailored advice on whether bridging finance suits your situation, talk to the team at Ascent Property Co. or Ascent Accountants. We can also put you in touch with finance brokers to discuss what is best for you.
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