Every town has one.
The fish and chip shop where the Friday night order is sorted with one phone call. Where the regulars don't need the menu. Where dinner comes wrapped in paper and nobody has to cook. For one Queensland community, this was that shop, serving fresh fish, chips and takeaway favourites. This year it changed hands, sold through Bonza for $176,000.
The Sale at a Glance
- Business: Fish and chip shop
- Location: Queensland
- Sold price: $176,000
- Days on market: 254
- Bonza commission: $7,040
- Commission at a typical 10%: $17,600
- Saved by the seller: $10,560
What the Commission Difference Really Looks Like
For businesses under a million dollars, broker fees in Australia commonly sit between 8% and 10%. At 10%, this sale would have cost the seller $17,600 in commission. At Bonza's 4%, it cost $7,040.
That's $10,560 that stayed with the person who spent years frying, serving and showing up. It isn't a rounding error. For a lot of small business owners, it's a holiday, a chunk of moving costs, or a real head start on whatever comes next. We charge 4% because our team-based model lets specialists handle marketing, onboarding and buyer management, while the broker focuses on getting the deal done. It's the full service without the inefficiency of one broker trying to do every job, and the savings go back to the seller.
Why 254 Days Was Worth the Wait
Just over eight months might sound like a long time. For a food business, it's often part of the process. A buyer taking on a takeaway shop has plenty to check. Government guidance for buyers recommends reviewing licences and permits, and whether the landlord will agree to transfer the lease, alongside trading figures and equipment. Buyers who need finance also have to work through lender approval. The goal isn't just a fast sale. It's the right buyer at the right price, and a deal that makes it all the way to settlement. How long any sale takes comes down to market demand, how clear the financials are, industry conditions and how well the business is positioned, which is why the groundwork before listing matters so much.
Thinking About Selling a Food Business in Queensland?
Fish and chip shops, cafés and takeaways are part of the fabric of Queensland towns. When it's time to move on, the owner deserves a sale that honours what they built and a fee that doesn't eat into it.
Our team works with sellers right across the state. Start with our free calculator tool, browse our other sold businesses, or request a free consultation to talk through your options.
