Episodes

Home Loan Experts founder Otto Dargan on getting a loan to buy a business, security, and where AI already helps with the paperwork [EP 316] Getting a Loan to Buy a Business: What Banks Actually Check Before They Say Yes | Aspect Legal

Home Loan Experts founder Otto Dargan on the AI mistakes to avoid and what buyers are already checking for. [EP 315] How AI Is Changing Your Business Valuation Before You Sell | Aspect Legal

Dr. Michael Filosi removed himself from his own dental practice, eliminated key person dependency, and sold to private equity in 81 days flat. Here's exactly how he did it. [EP 314] Buying a Business, Not a Job: What Buyers Should Be Looking Out For | Aspect Legal

Dr. Michael Filosi removed himself from his own dental practice, eliminated key person dependency, and sold to private equity in 81 days flat. Here's exactly how he did it. [EP 313] Sold in 81 Days: How Dr. Michael Filosi Built a Business That Private Equity Wanted to Buy | Aspect Legal

Shan Lai, Special Counsel at Aspect Legal, unpacks who's really buying Australian businesses from China right now - and why capital controls can catch sellers off guard. [EP 312] Who’s Actually Buying Australian Businesses From China Right Now? | Aspect Legal

Brett Goodyer returns to unpack employee buy-ins and ownership transitions, and the one document that decides whether a friendly sale stays friendly. [EP 311] Selling to Your Employees: The Mistake Business Owners Keep Making | Aspect Legal

In this first part of our two-part series, host Joanna Oakey is joined by Brett Goodyer from Business Valuations Online to explore one of the most overlooked drivers of a smooth business sale: getting the structure right early. [EP 310] Restructuring Before a Sale: What Most Businesses Get Wrong | Aspect Legal

In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, Joanna Oakey is joined by experienced business brokers Hugo Martin from ABS Business Sales and Travis Latter from Infinity Business Brokers to unpack a critical driver of successful transactions: preparation for due diligence. [EP 309] Why Pre-Due Diligence is the Difference Between Completion and Collapse? | Aspect Legal

In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, host Joanna Oakey shares insights from the Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB) Due Diligence Best Practices Forum, where she joined a panel of experienced advisors discussing what really causes business sales to slow down once contracts are in play. [EP 308] Why Understanding Motivation is Key to a Successful Business Sale? | Aspect Legal

In Part 2 of this conversation, Joanna Oakey sits down with Kristin Carney of Piper Health to unpack the real criteria corporates assess from FTE doctor numbers and staffing stability to cultural alignment and autonomy trade-offs. [EP 307] What Corporate Buyers Really Look for in Medical Practice Acquisitions – Part 2 with Kristin Carney | Aspect Legal

In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, host Joanna Oakey is joined by Kristin Carney, founder of Piper Health, to explore what doctors and medical practice owners commonly overlook when preparing for a sale. Drawing on decades of experience advising healthcare businesses and working within large corporate buyers, Kristin explains why due diligence can feel overwhelming, how corporates assess practices, and why emotional readiness is just as important as financial preparation. [EP 306] What D...

Earn-outs are common in business sales, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood deal structures. In this episode, Joanna Oakey breaks down how earn-outs work, the risks that cause them to fail, and the legal considerations that matter most. Practical insights for business owners, brokers and advisors involved in sale transactions. [EP 305] Earn-Outs Without the Headaches: Risks, Pitfalls and How to Get Them Right | Aspect Legal

In this second part of our episode with Sally Stuart, Nouha Mohtadi, and Sabrina Xia— Host Joanna Oakey continues the conversation with three of LINK Business’ top business brokers . This time, the focus is on deal strategy and practical advice for business owners looking to sell. [EP 304] The Exit Playbook: How to Sell Without Regret – Part 2 | Aspect Legal

Three award-winning female business brokers, Sally Stuart, Nouha Mohtadi, and Sabrina Xia, share how their strengths in empathy, strategy, and communication are reshaping SME business sales in a traditionally male-led industry. [EP 303] Inside the Minds of 3 Top Business Brokers | Aspect Legal

In Part 2 of this two-part series, The Deal Room Podcast welcomes back Matthew Newton from Bonza Business & Franchise Sales to unpack what really drives deals across the finish line. [EP 302] The Hidden Pitfalls of DIY Sales (and What to Do Instead) | Aspect Legal

In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, host Joanna Oakey sits down with Matthew Newton of Bonza Business & Franchise Sales to get his take on the powerful (and often misunderstood) world of small business exits. [EP 301] Beyond the Numbers: The Human Side of Selling a Small Business | Aspect Legal

In Part 2 of this 2 part Episode (our 300th episode of The Deal Room Podcast), Joanna Oakey, along with SEEK Business’ Alex Gilchrist, and valuations expert Brett Goodyer unpack red flags buyers should watch for—essential listening for buyers, brokers, and advisors navigating SME transactions with confidence and clarity. [EP 300] Red Flags or Deal Leverage? What Buyers Need to Know – Part 2 | Aspect Legal

In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, Joanna Oakey speaks with Brett Goodyer and Alex Gilchrist about avoiding common buyer traps in business purchases. [EP 299] Avoiding the Lemon: Smarter Business Buying Strategies | Aspect Legal

This episode dives into the critical role of financial clean-up before you’re ready to sell—covering common misconceptions about working capital, valuation gaps and the impact of cultural misalignment— with Joanna Oakey and Rod Hore. [EP 298] Earnouts vs. Equity Retention Part 2: Working Capital, Valuations & Offshoring | Aspect Legal

Performance trends, strategies for business owners, Covid's impact, and exploring earnouts versus equity retention. They also discuss understanding business valuation strategies for maximising value [EP 297] Earnouts vs. Equity Retention: Valuations, Performance and Strategic Decisions | Aspect Legal

Explore the pre-sale, transaction, and post-sale phases of business sales with key insights on risk mitigation, warranties, restraints, and contracts in this AI-powered episode of The Deal Room Podcast. [EP 296] A Fresh Look at Risk & Protection: Reviewing Risk in the Business Sale Process | Aspect Legal

Discover the essentials of share sales, using shares to support succession, and what on earth is a whitewash? In this episode of The Deal Room Podcast, Joanna Oakey answers key questions on navigating business acquisitions, legal compliance, and RTO transactions. [EP 295] Share Sales, Succession Planning and What is a Whitewash? | Aspect Legal

Joanna explores tales of running and selling the acclaimed printing business Digital Press - how Theo Pettaras sold a business, and gained a wife in the same day. He also shares incredible insights into how he’s transitioned from a business owner into a successful career in business broking. [EP 294] What’s love got to do with it? | Aspect Legal

Lucia Vuong, head of SEEK Business, joins Joanna Oakey to discuss some common questions about business sales and acquisitions, including the variables that can impact business valuations, the emotional aspects of selling, and the necessity of having a well-prepared deal team. [EP 293] From Business Valuations to the Reality of “No Money Down” Deals – Your Questions Answered | Aspect Legal