SEEK Business
SEEK Business is an Australian online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of businesses, franchises, and online businesses, operating as a subsidiary of SEEK Limited (ASX:SEK) and monetising via subscription advertising packages for private sellers, brokers, and franchisors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersRichmond, Australia
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SEEK Business does
SEEK Business is an Australian online business-for-sale marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of businesses, franchises, and online businesses. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Melbourne (Richmond), it operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of SEEK Limited (ASX:SEK), the publicly listed employment marketplace group. The platform serves three distinct advertiser segments — private sellers, business brokers, and franchisors — and reaches business buyers across Australia through dedicated hub pages (Marketplace, Franchise Listings, Business Broker Directory, Online Business Listings) and a content library of buyer/seller advice guides. Core product functionality includes location-based search (with configurable radius filters from 0km to 50km), industry category filtering, and daily personalised buyer recommendation emails that match registered buyers to new listings matching their saved preferences.
Underlying technology is a standard online marketplace platform: a web-based listing and search system, an advertising package management back end, and an email recommendation engine. The platform distinguishes itself through integration with the broader SEEK brand ecosystem rather than through proprietary technology, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability beyond basic matching logic. The site maintains a large inventory, with 3,905+ listings in Melbourne, 2,845+ in Sydney, and 2,725+ in the dedicated online business category.
SEEK Business generates revenue through subscription-style advertising packages paid upfront by sellers, with no commission charged on completed transactions. Three pricing tiers are offered to private sellers: Free (basic listing for 6 months), Standard at $749+GST (photo, higher search placement, and inclusion in daily recommendation emails, listed until sold), and Accelerate at $1,299+GST (top-of-search placement and priority in recommendation emails). Separate advertising solutions serve business brokers (lead generation) and franchisors (franchisee recruitment), supported by partnerships with the Franchise Council of Australia, the Franchise Relationships Institute, and Norton Rose Fulbright. Pricing is in Australian dollars plus GST, and the average selling time disclosed is 6–9 months per listing.
SEEK Business firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SEEK Business
- Legal name
- SEEK Business
- Website
- https://seekbusiness.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- SEEK Business is an Australian online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of businesses, franchises, and online businesses, operating as a subsidiary of SEEK Limited (ASX:SEK) and monetising via subscription advertising packages for private sellers, brokers, and franchisors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SEEK Business industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Business Marketplace
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business-for-Sale Marketplaces & Listing Platforms (FSAEAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sell-Side Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAC), E-commerce & Digital Business Brokerage (FSAEAIAH)
Keywords
Where SEEK Business is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
SEEK Business business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising Packages for Private Sellers: Three-tier subscription model where sellers pay upfront for advertising packages (Free, Standard, Accelerate) to list their businesses on the marketplace. No commission charged on sales. Revenue is generated purely from listing fees.
- Broker and Franchisor Hub Advertising: Separate advertising solutions for business brokers and franchisors accessing the platform's marketplace, leads, and franchisee recruitment tools
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Free listing with basic features for 6 months |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Enhanced visibility listing until sold |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Maximum exposure with priority placement |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
SEEK Business product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SEEK Business operates an online business-for-sale marketplace that connects private sellers, business brokers, and franchisors with prospective buyers across Australia. The platform monetises through tiered advertising packages (Free, Standard at $749+GST, Accelerate at $1,299+GST) that grant varying levels of visibility and inclusion in daily buyer recommendation emails, with no commission charged on completed sales.
Product overview
SEEK Business is a business-for-sale marketplace platform operating in Australia. The core offering consists of the SEEK Business Marketplace (the primary platform for buying and selling businesses, franchises, and online businesses), supplemented by a Franchise Listings section, Business Broker Directory, and Advice & Tips resources. For monetisation, it offers three Private Seller Advertising Packages (Free, Standard at $749+GST, and Accelerate at $1299+GST) that provide graduated levels of visibility, listing duration, and featured placement in daily buyer recommendation emails. The platform also includes location-based search and industry category filtering features to help buyers discover relevant opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SEEK Business Marketplace Online business-for-sale marketplace connecting buyers with sellers of businesses, franchises, and online businesses across Australia.
- Franchise Listings Specialized section of the SEEK Business marketplace for franchise opportunities across various industries including food & drink, health, retail, commercial services, and personal services.
- Business Broker Directory Directory of business brokers across Australia to help buyers and sellers navigate business sales, with location-based browsing by city.
- Private Seller Advertising Packages Advertising packages for private sellers on the SEEK Business marketplace: Free (basic 6-month listing), Standard at $749+GST (photo, higher placement, included in daily buyer recommendation emails, listed until sold), and Accelerate at $1,299+GST (top of search results and priority placement in daily buyer recommendation emails).
Quantifiable outcome
- Average selling time of 6-9 months for businesses listed
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SEEK Business
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SEEK Business technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SEEK Business partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Franchise Council of Australia (FCA)coreSEEK Business runs joint events with the Franchise Council of Australia to facilitate networking and learning that benefits the whole franchising community. FCA is the peak body for the $184 billion franchise business segment including 1,344 networks, 98,000+ individual franchised outlets, employing more than 598,000 people.
- Franchise Relationships Institute (FRI)coreSEEK Business collaborates with FRI who are widely regarded as the world's leading experts in the psychology of the franchise relationship, helping franchisors and franchisees to foster profitable partnerships.
- Norton Rose FulbrightcoreSEEK Business partners with Norton Rose Fulbright who are a preeminent franchising legal practice with lawyers recognized for superior industry and regulatory knowledge.
- SEEKcoreSEEK Business is part of the SEEK family, leveraging the SEEK brand network and extensive resources to connect sellers with quality potential buyers across Australia.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SEEK Business competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SEEK Limited: Parent company and Australia's leading employment marketplace (ASX:SEK). While SEEK Business operates as a distinct vertical, SEEK Limited provides the brand, traffic, and capital that powers SEEK Business's distribution advantage.
Direct peers
- BusinessesForSale.com: Global online business-for-sale marketplace operating across multiple countries. Closely matches SEEK Business in marketplace structure, listing categories, and broker directory offerings, with similar advertising package monetisation.
- Flippa: Global online marketplace specialising in the sale of online businesses, websites, and digital assets. Directly overlaps with SEEK Business's 2,725+ online business listings category and serves the same digital-entrepreneur buyer persona.
- Empire Flippers: Curated marketplace for buying and selling online businesses with vetted listings and broker-led transactions. Comparable to SEEK Business's online business vertical with a more premium positioning.
- BusinessBroker.net: Long-standing US business-for-sale and franchise marketplace with broker directory functionality. Similar to SEEK Business in combining private seller listings, broker directory, and franchise opportunities on a single platform.
- BizBuySell: Largest online business-for-sale marketplace in the United States, connecting buyers and sellers of small and mid-sized businesses. Directly comparable in business model, target customer (private sellers and brokers), and subscription-based listing revenue approach.
- BizQuest: US-focused online business-for-sale marketplace offering listings across industries with subscription-based seller packages. Comparable in core marketplace functionality, search/filter features, and SMB-to-mid-market deal focus.
Others
- Gumtree Australia: General classifieds platform with a business-for-sale category. While not a specialised business marketplace, it serves as a free alternative channel that anchors buyer expectations on no-cost listings, indirectly pressuring SEEK Business's paid tiers.
Emerging players
- Xcllusive Business Sales: Australian business brokerage specialising in the sale of hospitality, accommodation, and commercial businesses. Represents a competing intermediation channel for sellers and overlaps with SEEK Business's broker listings.
- Link Business Group: One of Australia's largest business brokerage networks with a hybrid online/offline model. Partial overlap as a competing channel for business-for-sale transactions in Australia; also a potential channel partner via SEEK Business's broker directory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SEEK Business social profiles
Digital presenceSEEK Business financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SEEK Business leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SEEK Business funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SEEK Business M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SEEK Business
What does SEEK Business do?
SEEK Business operates an online business-for-sale marketplace that connects private sellers, business brokers, and franchisors with prospective buyers across Australia. The platform monetises through tiered advertising packages (Free, Standard at $749+GST, Accelerate at $1,299+GST) that grant varying levels of visibility and inclusion in daily buyer recommendation emails, with no commission charged on completed sales.
Is SEEK Business a public or private company?
SEEK Business is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SEEK Business founded?
SEEK Business was founded in 2006. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is SEEK Business based?
SEEK Business is headquartered in Richmond, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does SEEK Business make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising Packages for Private Sellers are the primary driver. The others are broker and Franchisor Hub Advertising.
Who are SEEK Business's main competitors?
SEEK Limited is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are BusinessesForSale.com, Flippa, Empire Flippers, BusinessBroker.net, BizBuySell and BizQuest. Gumtree Australia is listed as an others. Emerging players are Xcllusive Business Sales and Link Business Group.
Does SEEK Business have an API?
No public API is recorded for SEEK Business.
What industry is SEEK Business in?
SEEK Business's product category is Online Business Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAIAK, Business-for-Sale Marketplaces & Listing Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAEAIAC, Sell-Side Business Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7310.