William Scarlett • Anna Davison
AWARD WINNING BUSINESS BROKERS
Sharp Strategy. Trusted Advice. Seamless Execution
William Scarlett
Anna Davison
AWARD WINNING
NZ BUSINESS BROKERS
Sharp Strategy. Trusted Advice. Seamless Execution
Welcome to The Broker’s Lens. I’m William Scarlett, and together with Anna Davison,
we help business owners navigate the sale of their most valuable asset.
Firstly, to ensure pricing accuracy. It’s absolutely crucial that your business is appraised by an experienced and competent broker, using at least six comparable sales and three methods to calculate (triangulate) value. You should expect a comprehensive report that is data driven and based on facts. You should understand that if its priced poorly and too low, you might sell it quickly, but you have done so because it was a bargain! If it is priced too high, you will end up with little interest and be forced to drop the price and look like you are desperate to sell having already tainted the buyer pool. Not good! The asking price of your business needs to be pitched perfectly!
Secondly, to ensure that your commercially sensitive business information is kept confidential. A good broker provides anonymous marketing, buyer screening before any information is released, and then staged disclosure of information to prevent mining for information by competitors and disclosure that could upset staff. This is absolutely essential.
Thirdly, negotiation and deal management. Negotiation is a craft that is not learnt in a classroom, but over years in business, actually doing deals. Deal value more often than not hinges on deal structure, not just price. A broker will manage negotiations and deal structure, striving to achieve competitive tension to get the best price for his vendor client whilst keeping you informed and in control. All this while remaining at arm’s length to reduce stress and minimise disruption so you can continue to run your business.
Fourthly, reach. Brokerage firms build up connections over years of transactions, which often allows you to tap into to a ready pool of buyers and access to broad marketing campaigns. Our database of pre-qualified buyers, ranging from high-net-worth individuals and private investors to established companies and investment groups, both domestic and international, remains among the most active in New Zealand.
Finally, momentum. Experienced brokers know when to widen the buyer pool, adjust structure, or reframe an offer to keep momentum going and create competitive tension, this often lifts value and shortens time to close.
Ultimately, choosing the right business broker determines whether these principles are applied rigorously or ignored. A capable broker understands value drivers, prices with discipline, protects confidentiality, and manages momentum through structure and negotiation. Conversely, a poor choice exposes you to mispricing, weak buyer interest, and unnecessary risk. Broker selection is not a branding decision, it is a commercial one that directly shapes outcome, timing, and value achieved.
The short answer is that together Anna and I have over 40 years’ combined experience in business ownership, and end to end project management, actually doing it on the ground! We know what it takes, and how hard you have persistently worked to get where you are. We will craft a strategy with care, provide clear advice, sound judgement, tell you the truth, and deliver results. We are passionate about what we do and speak frankly. If the timing or readiness is not right, we will tell you. Long-term relationships matter more to us than a quick listing.
If you would like an honest view on value, timing and options, contact us. We will give you straight advice and help you execute the right plan.