Question 1

What is Lumina Ventures?

Accepted Answer

Lumina Ventures is a business acquisition firm founded by Sandi Xian (Canva, KPMG, Suncorp) and Marcus Hahnheuser (RACQ, Virgin Australia, ATO). We're a Brisbane-based couple acquiring one essential services business in South East Queensland in 2026. We also offer Business Audits to help owners grow EBITDA through AI, automation, and operational improvements.

Question 2

What type of business is Lumina Ventures looking to acquire?

Accepted Answer

We're seeking one established essential services business in South East Queensland. Target industries include HVAC & air conditioning, electrical (commercial), pest control, building management systems (BMS), fire protection services, plumbing, cleaning & facilities management, landscaping & grounds maintenance, IT services / managed service providers (MSP), allied health, childcare, NDIS services, and registered training organisations (RTOs, both domestic and CRICOS). Our criteria: EBITDA $400,000-$700,000, annual revenue $1.5M-$3M, 60%+ recurring revenue, 10+ years established, 5-25 employees, and an owner-operator looking to transition.

Question 3

What is a Lumina Ventures Business Audit?

Accepted Answer

Our Business Audit ($6,500-$8,500) is a comprehensive operational assessment for essential services businesses. It covers AI and automation opportunity mapping, operational efficiency, cost reduction, software consolidation, owner-dependency reduction, resourcing, and financial improvements. You receive a 10-12 page professional report with a 30/90/180-day implementation roadmap. Whether you're preparing to sell or simply want a stronger, more profitable business, the audit gives you a concrete plan to grow your EBITDA. We limit audits to 5-6 per year.

Question 4

Why should I sell my business to Lumina Ventures instead of private equity?

Accepted Answer

We're not private equity or a roll-up fund. We're a local Brisbane couple who will personally operate the business we acquire. We care about legacy preservation, we'll work alongside your team, and we bring enterprise expertise from Canva, KPMG, Suncorp, RACQ, and Virgin Australia. We're transparent, fair, and committed to South East Queensland long-term.

Question 5

Do you work with business brokers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We're pre-qualified buyers with capital ready and we respond to any IM or listing within 48 hours. We also offer Business Audits at special broker pricing ($3,500-$5,000) to help vendor clients optimise their business before going to market. We're happy to sign NDAs and work within your process.

Question 6

How do I find out what my business is worth?

Accepted Answer

The fastest way to get an indicative value for your business is to use our free Business Appraisal tool at luminaventures.com.au/business-appraisal. It takes 3–5 minutes and provides an EBITDA-based value range and exit-readiness score tailored to your industry and SEQ region. For a formal valuation, you would need a registered business valuer.

Question 7

What is exit-readiness and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Exit-readiness is how prepared your business is to sell at its maximum value. It covers four areas: owner dependency (can the business run without you?), process documentation (are systems written down?), customer concentration (is revenue spread across many clients?), and technology (how scalable are your operations?). A business with high exit-readiness typically commands a higher EBITDA multiple and attracts more serious buyers.

Question 8

How long does it take to sell a business in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Most small to medium business sales in Queensland take between 6 and 18 months from first approaching the market to settlement. The timeline depends on business complexity, buyer readiness, due diligence depth, and finance conditions. A well-prepared, exit-ready business typically transacts faster and with fewer price renegotiations.

Question 9

What EBITDA multiple would I get for my HVAC or fire protection business in Brisbane?

Accepted Answer

In South East Queensland, HVAC and mechanical services businesses typically sell for 3.0x–5.0x EBITDA. Fire protection services businesses typically achieve 3.0x–5.0x EBITDA. Electrical contracting businesses typically trade at 3.0x–4.5x EBITDA. Pest control businesses, which often have strong recurring contract revenue, can achieve 3.5x–5.5x EBITDA. The actual multiple depends on recurring revenue percentage, owner-dependency, team stability, contract quality, and exit-readiness. Use our free Business Appraisal tool at luminaventures.com.au/business-appraisal for an indicative range specific to your business.

Question 10

Can I get a free business appraisal for my cleaning, landscaping, or IT services company in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our free Business Appraisal tool at luminaventures.com.au/business-appraisal covers cleaning & facilities management (typically 2.5x–4.0x EBITDA), landscaping & grounds maintenance (2.5x–3.5x EBITDA), and IT services / managed service providers (3.5x–6.0x EBITDA). It also covers HVAC, electrical, plumbing, pest control, fire protection, building management, allied health, childcare, NDIS, RTOs, and property management businesses across South East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Logan, and Moreton Bay. The tool takes 3–5 minutes and provides an EBITDA-based value range and exit-readiness score.

Question 11

Does Lumina Ventures buy businesses on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lumina Ventures is actively looking to acquire essential services businesses across all of South East Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Redlands. We are a Brisbane-based firm and operate across the full SEQ region. Our free Business Appraisal tool supports all SEQ regions with location-specific benchmarks.

Question 12

How do I prepare my business for sale in Brisbane or South East Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Start by getting a clear picture of your business from a buyer's perspective. Key steps: reduce owner dependency (the #1 deal-killer), document your processes and SOPs, consolidate your software and systems, ensure QBCC licence compliance (for trades), build recurring revenue, and address any customer concentration risks. Lumina Ventures offers a Business Audit ($6,500-$8,500) that covers all of these areas and gives you a prioritised 30/90/180-day roadmap to maximise your sale price. Most businesses need 6-12 months of preparation to achieve their best outcome.

Question 13

What should I do before selling my trades business in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Before selling a trades business in Queensland, focus on: (1) reducing owner dependency, because buyers pay less for businesses that can't run without the owner, (2) ensuring your QBCC licence is transferable and compliant, (3) documenting all processes and standard operating procedures, (4) cleaning up your financials with 3+ years of accountant-prepared statements, (5) building recurring revenue through service contracts and maintenance agreements, and (6) consolidating your technology stack. A Lumina Ventures Business Audit evaluates all of these areas and benchmarks your business against comparable recent sales in your industry and SEQ region.

Question 14

How can I maximise my business sale price in South East Queensland?

Accepted Answer

The biggest levers for maximising your sale price are: increasing your EBITDA (through cost reduction, automation, and operational efficiency), reducing owner dependency, building a strong recurring revenue base, and presenting clean, well-documented operations. Businesses that are 'exit-ready' typically achieve 0.5x-1.0x higher EBITDA multiples than comparable businesses that go to market unprepared. Lumina Ventures' Business Audit identifies specific, costed improvements. Most clients find $50-150K in annual EBITDA improvements through AI, automation, cost reduction, and software consolidation alone.

Question 15

I run a plumbing or electrical business in Brisbane. Would Lumina Ventures be interested?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Plumbing businesses in South East Queensland typically achieve 2.5x–4.0x EBITDA multiples, with higher multiples for businesses with strong service agreements and commercial client bases. Electrical businesses (commercial focus) typically achieve 3.0x–4.5x EBITDA. If your plumbing or electrical business has EBITDA of $400K–$700K and is located in SEQ, we'd encourage you to start a confidential conversation with us or use our free Business Appraisal tool to get an indicative value range.

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