Nelson business valuation benchmarks
Business valuation evidence for Nelson, drawn from 292 verified sales recorded by licensed NZ business brokers. Indexed price trends, median time-to-sell, recent comparables and an industry breakdown, covering the Nelson region across every ANZSIC division.
The state of the Nelson business sales market
Nelson is a lifestyle-weighted market at the top of the South Island, with a commercial base shaped by tourism, food and a strong arts and hospitality scene. Bizstats has recorded 292 verified Nelson sales. Accommodation and Food Services is the most active category at roughly 39% of recorded transactions, a hospitality-heavy mix typical of a visitor-driven region.
The indexed median Nelson sale price reached 210 by 2025, a 110% cumulative rise on the 2010 baseline. With only a handful of sales behind each year's median, the index swings sharply, so treat it as a long-run direction rather than a precise annual measure.
Median time-to-sell has lengthened, from 6 months early in the period to 10 months by 2025. A rising time-to-sell points to a more selective buyer pool. SDE multiples have ranged very widely, a direct consequence of the small annual samples in a region this size.
Sale price and SDE multiple figures are indexed to 2010 = 100. The +% values show cumulative change since the 2010 baseline. The full dollar medians, by industry and sub-category, are available in a Bizstats valuation report.
Indexed median business sale price in Nelson
Median sale price for business transactions recorded in Nelson, indexed to 2010 = 100. The underlying dollar medians by industry and sub-category are published in the Bizstats valuation report.
Commentary: The Nelson price index reached 210 by 2025, a 110% cumulative rise since 2010, on a notably volatile path that has swung between 66 and 318. With only a handful of sales behind each year's median, read the multi-year trend rather than any single point.
Indexed median SDE multiple in Nelson
Median SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) multiple paid for businesses in Nelson, indexed to 2010 = 100. The price index tracks what businesses sell for; the SDE multiple index tracks what buyers are paying per dollar of earnings. Actual multiples by industry are published in a Bizstats valuation report.
Commentary: The Nelson SDE multiple has ranged very widely, from 59 to 195 on a 2010 = 100 index, sitting at 66 by 2025. That wide band is a direct consequence of the small annual samples in a region this size, not a structural re-rating.
What buyers pay for in a Nelson business sale
The average split of the sale price into tangible assets, stock and intangibles (brand, customer base and other non-physical value) for business transactions recorded in Nelson, year by year. Each bar is a 100% view: it shows the mix, not the dollar value.
- Tangibles
- Stock
- Intangibles
| Year | Tangibles | Stock | Intangibles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 53% | 2% | 45% |
| 2016 | 32% | 1% | 67% |
| 2023 | 35% | 5% | 60% |
| 2025 | 31% | 4% | 65% |
Commentary: Across Nelson's recorded sales the median deal split roughly 31% tangible assets, 4% stock and 65% intangibles by 2025. The intangible share has moved from 45% in 2010 to 65% (+20 points), with Accommodation and Food Services the busiest category in a smaller but steady regional market.
Median time-to-sell for Nelson businesses
Median months from listing to unconditional sale for business transactions in Nelson. A leading indicator of buyer demand. Tighter time-to-sell signals stronger competition for available stock.
Commentary: Time-to-sell has lengthened, from 6 months early in the period to 10 months by 2025, having peaked at 14 months in 2014. A rising time-to-sell points to a more selective buyer pool for Nelson businesses.
Recent business sales in Nelson
A sample of recent anonymised transactions recorded in Nelson. Each row shows the ANZSIC sub-category, revenue, SDE and sale month, with revenue and SDE rounded to the nearest $100,000. Full anonymised comparables with exact sale prices and SDE multiples are in a Bizstats valuation report.
| ANZSIC | Revenue | SDE | SDE X | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafes and Restaurants | $1,800,000 | $100,000 | ••• | Oct 2025 |
| Technical and Vocational Education and Training | $700,000 | $200,000 | ••• | Aug 2025 |
| Cafes and Restaurants | $1,700,000 | $200,000 | ••• | Jul 2025 |
| Takeaway Food Services | $700,000 | $100,000 | ••• | Jun 2025 |
| Takeaway Food Services | $300,000 | $100,000 | ••• | Apr 2025 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $1,600,000 | $600,000 | ••• | Feb 2025 |
| Concreting Services | $1,900,000 | $300,000 | ••• | Feb 2025 |
| Dental Services | $1,100,000 | $600,000 | ••• | Jan 2025 |
| Accommodation | $800,000 | $300,000 | ••• | Sep 2024 |
| Wooden Structural Fitting and Component Manufacturing | $3,900,000 | $600,000 | ••• | Jul 2024 |
See what they actually sold for. A Bizstats valuation report unlocks exact sale prices, SDE multiples and time-to-sell for businesses in Nelson by ANZSIC sub-category.
Create a Bizstats report →Sample drawn from 292 verified Nelson transactions, updated as new sales are recorded by our network of licensed NZ business brokers.
Business sales by industry in Nelson
Recorded Nelson business sales by ANZSIC industry division. Accommodation and Food Services leads with 115 recorded sales, about 39% of the regional total. Follow any linked industry for its nationwide benchmarks.
| Industry (ANZSIC division) | Recorded sales | Share of region |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 115 | 39% |
| Retail Trade | 70 | 24% |
| Manufacturing | 32 | 11% |
| Other Services | 18 | 6% |
| Wholesale Trade | 15 | 5% |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 10 | 3% |
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 6 | 2% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 6 | 2% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 5 | 2% |
| Education and Training | 4 | 1% |
| Construction | 4 | 1% |
| Public Administration and Safety | 2 | 1% |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 2 | 1% |
| Arts and Recreation Services | 1 | 0% |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 1 | 0% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0% |
Industries with a published benchmark page are linked. Counts span every recorded year; where a region has fewer than 15 recorded sales in an industry the sample is too thin to benchmark that industry x region cell reliably.
Put these Nelson benchmarks to work
Apply Bizstats Nelson benchmarks to a specific business: your own, a target acquisition or a comparable you're researching. Three free tools, no signup, real insights.
Work out Seller's Discretionary Earnings for a Nelson business, step by step.
Calculate SDEStart hereApply industry multiples to your SDE and get a market value estimate for a Nelson business in seconds.
Try for FreeCalculate the return on investment for a Nelson business purchase.
Calculate ROINelson business valuation FAQ
Nelson is a modest, lifestyle-weighted market at the top of the South Island. Bizstats has recorded 292 verified Nelson sales, a thin annual sample that keeps the price and SDE indices volatile year to year. Accommodation and Food Services is the most active category at roughly 39% of recorded transactions.
Over the long run, yes. Indexed to 2010 = 100, the median Nelson sale price reached around 210 by 2025, a 110% increase. The path is very volatile, because only a handful of sales sit behind each year's median, so the multi-year trend matters far more than any single year. The underlying dollar medians by industry are in a Bizstats valuation report.
SDE multiples vary far more by industry than by region, and Nelson's small annual samples widen the range considerably. Location, lease terms, customer concentration and the strength of trading history all influence where a specific business lands. The exact SDE multiples for a Nelson business in your industry are published in a Bizstats valuation report.
Median time-to-sell for Nelson businesses has lengthened to roughly 10 months, up from 6 months early in the period. A rising time-to-sell points to a more selective buyer pool.
Accommodation and Food Services leads with 115 recorded sales, followed by Retail Trade. The full ranking is in the industry breakdown on this page, and each industry with a published benchmark page is linked. You can also browse all industry benchmarks directly.
Bizstats publishes market direction freely (indexed trends, sample counts, time-to-sell, industry breakdowns), but the underlying dollar medians and SDE multiples are part of a paid Bizstats valuation report. This split lets buyers, sellers, brokers and accountants benchmark direction at no cost.
The dataset is updated monthly, with new transactions constantly flowing in from our network of licensed New Zealand business brokers. The indexed trends and charts on this page are benchmarked from 2010.
About this page
The benchmark figures, charts and recent comparables above are drawn from 292 verified business sales recorded in Nelson by licensed NZ business brokers. The written analysis is generated from that data and reviewed by the Bizstats team, and is refreshed as new sales are recorded. These are indicative market benchmarks, not a formal valuation. See our Terms of Use.
Benchmarks last updated .
Learn more about business valuation
Guides that explain the metrics behind these regional benchmarks: SDE, earnings multiples, the ANZSIC classification and how market-based valuation works.
Understanding the Role of SDE in Business Valuation
One of the most widely used methods for business valuation is the capitalisation of earnings. Learn why Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is crucial for SME valuation.
Key Factors That Impact Earnings Multiples in Business Valuation
For small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is the most relevant measure when valuing a business. This is particularly true in New Zealand, where 97% of businesses have fewer than 20 employees.
Market Based Valuation 101
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Value Modifiers in Business Valuation
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Understanding ANZSIC
ANZSIC codes classify business data, simplifying your search for accurate comparables on Bizstats.
When is the Best Time to Sell my Business?
Thinking about selling your business? Remember that timing is everything! At Bizstats, we prefer a data-driven approach to business decisions.