Buying a business is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make. Many business owners feel overwhelmed by the complexities, from understanding financial statements and negotiating fair purchase prices to ensuring tax efficiency and structuring the acquisition for long‑term success.
Our Perth-based accountants and business advisors are available to assist you, using their first-hand experiences to help make your journey into business ownership a success.
BOOK A FREE MEETING WITH A BUSINESS ACCOUNTANT
$4,000 (excl. GST)
Tax Minimisation Strategies ReportThe rest of this page is dedicated to providing you with an overview of the typical problems and associated solutions with regard to buying a business. These apply whether you are buying a business in Perth, elsewhere in WA or across Australia.
We’ve helped countless people along the business acquisition journey and stand ready to help you. When you’re ready to talk, book a meeting or send an enquiry.
The Problem:
When you’re considering buying a business, questions immediately arise: Are the financials as healthy as they appear? Could hidden liabilities derail your investment? Will the purchase structure suit your future growth plans? Without clear, specialist advice, you risk making costly decisions that could jeopardise your new venture’s success.
Our Solution:
At Munro’s, we take a holistic, problem‑solving approach. We work with you from the initial assessment through to closing the deal. Our process includes:
Key Outcomes and Benefits:
The fear of missing out is so powerful and can lead people to make terrible decisions. Buying a business requires you to put a lot of wealth on the line. You’ve got to think clearly and sceptically.
Solution
Be sceptical.
Outcome
Reduce the chance of buying an overpriced / non-profitable business.
video key points
Presented by: Mike Beer
video transcript
Transcript available on the Business Acquisition Advice page.
How are you going to fund the purchase of the business? Do you need extra funds to satisfy ongoing financial obligations? What additional liabilities, guarantees and risks are you going to take on? Will you have sufficient cash to survive and eventually thrive?
Solution
Appropriate funding.
Outcome
The money you need to survive and thrive.
video key points
Presented by: Sanjay Nair
video transcript
Transcript available on the Financing a Business Acquisition page.
Tax is generally unavoidable, but the amount of tax you pay in the future will be heavily influenced by decisions made now.
Solution
Setup tax planning.
Outcome
Bare minimum tax.
video key points
Presented by: Rama Yudhistira
video transcript
Transcript available on the Tax Planning for New Businesses page
Operating a business increases exposures to extra liabilities and requires safeguarding of existing and new wealth as best as possible.
Solution
Basic asset protection + optionally advanced protection.
Outcome
At least the bare minimum wealth protection you should have.
video key points
Presented By: Saul Segal
video transcript
Transcript available on the Asset Protection for New Businesses page.
When arranging a due diligence, you should really follow the classic wisdom: you can’t just look at the iceberg above the ocean surface because there is so much hidden and dangerous below.
Solution
Comprehensive due diligence.
Outcome
Make a fully informed decision and know what you’re getting into.
video key points
Presented by: Mike Beer
video transcript
Transcript available on the Due Diligence Advice page.
Whether you’re going into business with family or friends, it’s important to recognise that business life and the stresses it brings will give rise to new and sometimes challenging issues.
Solution
Clearly defined and understood intent with a proactive dispute resolution agreement.
Outcome
Mitigate the potential of messy and costly future disputes.
video key points
Presented By: Rama Yudhistira
video transcript
Transcript available on the Shareholders Agreement page.
We cannot stress enough how vital it is to setup an accurate accounting system from the beginning.
Solution
Startup bookkeeping.
Outcome
Clean financial information from the beginning as opposed to a costly, uninformative mess.
video key points
Presented by: Rama Yudhistira
video transcript
Transcript available on the Business Bookkeeping page.
Employment, tax and superannuation laws impose a heavy burden on employers and you must give this responsibility the attention and care it requires.
Solution
Skilful and pragmatic support with implementing employment basics.
Outcome
Legally compliant employment arrangements.
video key points
Presented by: Saul Segal
video transcript
Transcript available on the Payroll Accounting & Employing People page.
There is no one who knows everything about business. From the moment you buy your business, you’ll need to continually upskill to meet the challenges. Don’t start from scratch; tap into the knowledge and learnings of others.
Solution
Sprints, blended learning, community insights and coaching.
Outcome
The best leader you can become, as quickly as you can get there.
video key points
Presented By: Drew Pflaum
With Thanks To: Ayman Al-Abdullah
References page.
video transcript
Transcript available on the Business Improvement Workshops, Sprints & Programmes page.
What are the first steps in buying a business?
Before proceeding, you should conduct preliminary research, understand your financial capacity (can you get a loan) and arrange for specialist advice. We help you assess whether a business aligns with your growth plans.
How do I know if a business is fairly valued?
Our valuation process uses multiple methods to ensure accuracy, considering cash flow, assets and market trends. We compare industry benchmarks to determine a fair price.
What if I find hidden liabilities during due diligence?
Identifying risks early is crucial. We advise on mitigating strategies and this may allow you to renegotiate terms based on unforeseen liabilities, ensuring you don’t overpay for potential risks.
How can tax planning help when buying a business?
Effective tax planning can significantly reduce your tax burden in the future. We work with you to structure the deal in a tax‑efficient manner, ensuring you take advantage of all applicable concessions and deductions.
Are your services available only in Perth?
While Munro’s is proudly based in Perth with deep local expertise, our compliance and advisory strategies are effective for businesses throughout Australia.
What makes Munro’s approach different?
We are known as “The Professional Problem Solvers” because we focus on understanding your challenges and crafting tailored solutions. Our approach is transparent, value‑driven and backed by over 100 Google reviews praising our responsiveness and specialist advice.
How can a business accountant help improve my profit following the acquisition?
Our specialists don’t just crunch numbers; we provide actionable insights that can help optimise your operations, reduce unnecessary expenses and ultimately boost your profit margins.
What is the price for your structuring and due diligence service?
Our pricing is transparent and reflects the complexity of your needs. Please visit our pricing page and contact us for a personalised quote.
How long does the buying process usually take?
Every acquisition is unique. Generally, the process can take several months from initial enquiry to final settlement, depending on whether you’ve already identified a target acquisition, your access to business loans, the complexity of due diligence and negotiations.
Can you help if I’m considering a franchise purchase?
Absolutely. We have assisted many clients in purchasing franchises by evaluating their financial performance and negotiating favourable terms.
First Session is FREE (incl. GST)
Upskilling Event for Business LeadersClaims of being a ‘Top 2% ranked Australian Accounting Firm‘ (and similar claims) are based on two separate assessments conducted by Munro’s on 9-10 August 2023 and 1 December 2023. The ranking is derived from a comparison of the total of each accounting firm’s overall star rating multiplied by each firm’s quantity of reviews as shown on Google Maps. A total of 4,235 Australian accounting firms listed on Google Maps were identified for the earlier assessment, and a total of 4,301 for the latter assessment, which may not represent a complete list of Australian accounting firms. Munro’s claims are based on Munro’s best estimation and represent a snapshot collected at the time of each assessment. If the assessment was to be conducted today, then it is likely that Munro’s ranking would have changed – Munro’s may or may not be in the Top 2% today. Also, the methodology does not account for other potentially relevant factors such as quality of service, expertise, or client satisfaction beyond Google Maps reviews.
video key points
Presented by: Drew Pflaum
video transcript
In December 2023, we conducted a review of Australian accounting firms on Google Maps, based on star rating and quantity of reviews.
Out of the 4,301 Australian accounting firms we identified on Google, Munro’s ranked number 44, placing us in the Top 2% of Australian Accounting Firms. We’re thrilled to share this fact with you and share those reviews on our website. We’d also like to thank all our clients who left us those wonderful reviews.
Thank you.
Professional, insightful and always supporting. Christine and Munro’s has helped me through all avenue’s and queries regarding investment, tax return, property, super and general finance. Really appreciative of their work and highly recommend!
They know what they are doing. No matter how complex your accounting is, Munro’s is the way to go. They also have international experience. Drew and Mike’s expertise and responsiveness won’t disappoint you.
Excellent advice with very skilled accountants. Not too expensive, for such a specialized and sophisticated service. Committed to the customer, always very professional and helpful. Highly recommended!
MUNROS what a great team:
Munros have supported 3 generations of the O’Halloran family from Kojonup over the past 50 years. Starting with Donald Munro when he was Wesfarmers client Accountant.
We are very grateful for their ongoing support in all accounting matters. Simon, Christine and their team are always willing to help whenever we need it.
Congratulations on your 50-year celebration. All the best for the future.
I can highly recommend Tony and Michael at Munros – they have done my family affairs for several years now and couldn’t be more happier with the service I receive. The quality and professionalism of the work is second to none.
We are delighted with the friendly, knowledgeable and efficient service Simon and his team provide.
We have tested Simon’s patience and humour over the years but he has always managed to come through with a smile.Thank you to Simon and his team!
I used Munro’s for the first time this past year for my tax. My situation was complicated, but this did not phase them. A massive thankyou to the team there including Drew and Christine. Their professionalism was excellent. I cannot flaw their efforts at all. It was a pleasure to deal with them. Thankyou very much Munro’s. See you next year.
Mike assisted with our farm succession planning. Thanks to Mike’s in depth knowledge on this subject, this process has been smooth and amicable. We highly recommend Mike and his team for family business succession.
I came over to Australia with a highly complicated cryptocurrency investing and trading portfolio. I never realised that I had to declare this in my tax returns as I had never cashed out into my bank account. I soon discovered that every transaction is taxable irrespective of whether or not you cash out. I contacted Munro’s in an outright panic and was put through to Cherie and explained everything to her. She immediately put me at ease and took control of my situation. From the start it was evident that I was in the care of a real professional tax consultant. I handed her a nightmare on a plate (3 years of highly complicated transactions) and she seamlessly worked through it. Cherie has incredible knowledge and experience and through this, Munro’s saved us thousands of dollars. I will remain at Munro’s until the very end. Thank you Cherie, you are the most knowledgeable and professional tax consultant that I have ever dealt with.
We followed Mike Beer when he joined Munros and have been with them ever since. Mike has been a huge help over many years. He is always available to answer even the most basic/ extraordinarily naive questions, and always with a generous and helpful attitude.
Munros have been doing my family tax returns for the past 3 years, and I’ve been nothing but delighted with the service they’ve offered. They took on a relatively complex set of returns, including sharing of CGT benefits between myself and my partner, and did exactly what I hoped they’d do, and more. Not only that, they always went above and beyond to explain what they have done and why, keeping us happy and at ease at all times during the tax return processes.
And to top it off, their knowledge of the crypto space is phenomenal, as are the tools they’ve developed to report and get the best possible returns with cryptos in mind.
Give them a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Josephine and the Munros team have looked after our accounting affairs for more then 10 years. I am incredibly pleased with the quality of the service they provided. They are professional, trustworthy and patient all the time. Highly recommend Munros.
Happy 50 years !!! I joined Munro’s in 1974 just close to when the accounting firm had started, Don Munro was my accountant at the time and helped greatly in all my various problems and successes and he still remained a very dear friend to me; now Simon Strawbridge is looking after me and I can only praise all the work that he has been doing for me not only in accounting, but also in advising my various legal problems and investments.
I can only say well done to the whole team and hope that I will still be their client in the coming years.
I’m extremely pleased with the services of Munro’s Accountants. They are professional and easy to work with. My situation was not simple yet they completed the task and have provided me with peace of mind going forwards. I would not hesitate to recommend them. AAAAA+++++
Thanks Mike and the team for making it easy to process my personal tax and for answering all my questions and concerns around CGT.
Thanks Drew and Munros for helping me with my taxes.
Highly recommended
We have been clients of Munro’s (and Donald F Munro & Assoc. before that) for more than 50 years and have always found them to be right on point with their advice and work. Nothing is too much trouble to research and the responses always given in easy-to-understand language. We love that the K.I.S.S principle is used (keep-it-simple-stupid!) We can’t thank Simon and Carl enough for the great service that they provide. I have also, in community roles, worked with Barry Virgo and Ian Arblaster over the years on Co-operative business and their knowledge was second to none.
Thank you and congratulations Munro’s on 50 years + in business.
Drew and the team at Munros have made my cryptocurrency accounting a breeze primarily for tax purposes and to ensure all previous years were reconciled correctly given my previous tax agents literally had no idea despite their knowledge of my crypto holdings for the past 2 tax years. Well done Drew, well done Munros for specialising in this space. Great job!!
The family began with Don Munro at Wesfarmers. Simon and his professional staff at Munros have continued to give excellent service and advice over many years. Lil Ward and Carol look forward to our association with you in the future. Congratulations on 50 years.
Congratulations on 50 years of accounting.
Munro`s have managed our family business affairs for approximately 45 years.
Thankyou.
Munro’s provided me with the exact accounting and tax advice I needed. I highly recommend Munro’s to anyone who is searching for a professional accounting firm that goes the extra mile to help their clients.
Do You Thrive To Learn More About How To Achieve Greater Business Success?
Sign up to our magazine designed specifically for Australian business leaders.
