Business Purchase Lawyers Sydney
We help buyers, investors and small business owners to review contracts, manage risk and complete business purchases with confidence. Our Business Lawyer’s role is to make the process safe and predictable. We review the contracts, employees, leases, financial records, licences and intellectual property to ensure you understand exactly what you are buying.
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Types of Business Purchases We Help With
Small Business Purchases and Franchises
Many of our clients are first-time buyers looking at cafés, restaurants, retail stores, trades-based businesses, online businesses or franchise outlets. We walk you through every stage from reviewing the information memorandum to settlement and make sure you understand the obligations, risks and contractual terms before you commit.
Medium and Growing Businesses
We also assist buyers purchasing larger or multi-site operations, professional practices and established brands. These matters often involve share sales, employee transfers, finance arrangements, earn-outs and more complex structures. We ensure the transaction is properly documented, risks are managed, and commercial outcomes are protected throughout the process.
Asset Sale vs Share Sale – Which Structure Is Right?
An asset sale involves purchasing the business assets only, such as plant, equipment, stock, intellectual property and goodwill, without acquiring the seller’s company. A share sale involves purchasing the company that owns the business, including its liabilities. The right structure depends on tax outcomes, risk appetite and commercial objectives. We help you assess both options so the structure supports your long-term goals.
Key Issues We Review Before You Sign
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*Free consultation is limited to 15 minute phone call for us to give preliminary advice
Buying a Business in Sydney – Why Legal Advice Matters
Buying an existing business can be a smart way to step into ownership, but it is also one of the highest-risk transactions you can make. A business that looks profitable on the surface may carry hidden liabilities, unclear ownership of assets, old tax issues, unreviewed employee entitlements or leases the landlord won’t transfer.Â
Without checking the legal and commercial framework of the business, buyers can unintentionally take on problems that reduce the value of what they are paying for. Instead of dealing with uncertainty, you get a clear, step-by-step plan from due diligence to settlement, supported by business lawyers who focus on practical outcomes that protect your investment.
Our Step-by-Step Process For Buying a Business
Initial Consultation and Review of the Deal
We discuss your goals, review early documents and identify potential risks. This ensures you approach the purchase with the right structure and strategy from the beginning.
Heads of Agreement and Offer Terms
We help refine key commercial terms so they are clear before the detailed contract is drafted. This reduces later disputes and speeds up the transaction.
Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Due Diligence
Legal due diligence and contract negotiation run together. We review the seller’s information, negotiate terms and ensure the contract properly reflects the commercial deal.
Pre-Settlement Preparation
We coordinate landlord approvals, regulatory requirements, finance conditions and consents from suppliers, franchisors or licensing bodies as needed.
Settlement and Handover
We finalise settlement documents, adjust stock and financial items, transfer registrations and ensure a smooth handover of business operations.
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If you are considering buying a business, we can help you complete the transaction safely and with confidence. Our team reviews your risks, handles negotiations and manages every legal step through to settlement. We also review contracts at short notice if you are working to a deadline.
Address
Suite 904/10 Help St, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia
How Our Business Purchase Lawyers Help You
Pre-Offer Advice and Negotiation Strategy
Before you commit, we review the information memorandum, early financial documents and any heads of agreement. We highlight red flags, discuss risks and help shape the offer terms, price adjustments and conditions that protect you during negotiations.
Contract Drafting and Review
The sale of a business agreement or share sale agreement sets out exactly what you are buying. We ensure the contract deals with assets, liabilities, warranties, restraints, stock valuation, adjustments and completion mechanics.
Due Diligence and Risk Management
Our due diligence examines the legal, commercial and operational aspects of the business. We coordinate with your accountant on financial and tax reviews and provide a clear report outlining issues that need to be fixed or renegotiated before you proceed.
Lease and Landlord Consent
We manage the assignment of the current lease or negotiate a new agreement with the landlord. This includes dealing with personal guarantees, security deposits and compliance with the Retail Leases Act where applicable.
Finance, Regulatory and Completion Items
If you are financing the purchase, we coordinate with your lender to satisfy their requirements. We also manage licences, permits, PPSR releases and transfer of business registrations to ensure settlement runs smoothly.
Settlement, Handover and Post-Completion Support
We prepare completion checklists, transfer documents and settlement statements. After settlement, we help resolve handover issues such as supplier transitions, stock disputes or missing documents so you can move forward without disruption.
Why Choose CMI Legal for Business Purchases in Sydney
We provide businesses with unlimited legal help
Client Testimonials and Reviews
Based on 61 reviews
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I’ve had an incredibly positive experience working with John & Winnie on my matter. From start to finish, they have been professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive throughout what’s been a stressful time for me.
They explained every step of the process clearly, responded promptly to any questions I had, and made complicated situations feel a lot more manageable. I felt like I was in good hands the entire time, and their calm, confident approach really helped me stay grounded.
Highly recommend CMI services to anyone needing immigration or legal assistance — couldn’t be more grateful.
Thanks again!
They explained every step of the process clearly, responded promptly to any questions I had, and made complicated situations feel a lot more manageable. I felt like I was in good hands the entire time, and their calm, confident approach really helped me stay grounded.
Highly recommend CMI services to anyone needing immigration or legal assistance — couldn’t be more grateful.
Thanks again!
As an old customer of CMI, this year is already the 8th year. Special thanks to attorney John and attorney Tina for carefully answering our various questions, providing a lot of professional advice and help, allowing us to easily complete each transaction.
Tina was a great lawyer - she was always incredibly knowledgeable, answered all questions promptly, and very friendly. Would recommend Tina!
Tina was a great help in guiding us through our first home buying experience. She gave us a lot of great explanations and advice from initial discussion of the process through every step until successful settlement. Communication and resolution of issues was prompt and professional.
Tina is a fantastic lawyer. her responses to my queries were thorough and timely, and impeccable organizational skills! Truly appreciated her clear and consistent communcation througout the entire property-purchasing process. she handled everything with profressionalism and expertise, making what could have been a stressful experience much smoother. Highly recommend!
We had the pleasure of working with Tina as our solicitor for our first home purchase, and we couldn’t have been in better hands. She carefully explained every step of the process, guiding us through what initially felt overwhelming and unfamiliar. Buying off the plan made us particularly cautious, especially when it came to reviewing legal documents. Tina’s meticulous approach put us at ease—she ensured we both clearly understood each aspect, taking the time to highlight and reorganise information to make it more accessible. Her dedication and professionalism made the entire experience far less daunting, and we’re truly grateful for her support.
John and Tina have provided great professional legal service since 2017 for me.
I realised that I hadn’t left a review for my dealings with CMI legal. I had dealt with them a few months ago, but an epiphany made me come and leave a review.
5 stars is insufficient to express their work. We were working Dee and she is an amazing and thorough professional. She goes above and beyond and explains matters that makes you understand things really well. Thank you Dee for your amazing work.
5 stars is insufficient to express their work. We were working Dee and she is an amazing and thorough professional. She goes above and beyond and explains matters that makes you understand things really well. Thank you Dee for your amazing work.
FAQs About Business Purchases
Yes, brokers act for the seller, not the buyer. Their contracts often miss key protections, warranties and risk provisions that safeguard your investment.
An asset sale transfers assets only, while a share sale transfers the whole company, including liabilities. We help determine which structure fits your commercial and tax goals.
At minimum, financials, lease documents, employee records, licences, contracts and the business structure. Early legal review prevents costly surprises later.
Most transactions take four to eight weeks, depending on due diligence, landlord consent and the complexity of the contract.
You may take them on under the Fair Work Act with entitlements adjusted at settlement. We make sure these obligations are properly documented.
The contract outlines valuation and payment. Stock is usually adjusted at settlement. We ensure these provisions are clear and fair.
We liaise with the landlord, review the lease and ensure all conditions for assignment or a new lease are satisfied before settlement.
Fees depend on complexity, but we provide a clear scope and fixed-fee or staged-fee options where suitable.
Meet Our Experienced Legal Team of Business Lawyers
Tina Tang
Lawyer
Rita Lam
Lawyer
Mathew Wu
Director
Jhon Zhang
Principal
Malorie Tan
Lawyer