John Kasapi Named 2026 AIBB National Business Broker of the Year

John Kasapi has been named the 2026 AIBB National Business Broker of the Year, receiving the Australian Institute of Business Brokers’ major national individual award for 2026. The award marks another significant milestone for Kasapi, an experienced Australian business broker best known for his specialisation in the sale of hair, beauty and salon businesses.

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Australia’s 2026 National Business Broker of the Year

The Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB) officially announced Kasapi as the 2026 National Business Broker of the Year following its National Conference and Gala Awards in Cairns. He was selected from seven national finalists: Bradley Potter, Brian Sander, Jennifer Angsiting, Jonathon Parker, Sabrina Xia and Shrey Shah.

For Kasapi, the national title follows years of industry recognition and a business broking career built heavily around one principle: specialising in an industry and understanding it deeply.

The AIBB National Business Broker of the Year award forms part of the institute’s annual national awards program, which recognises achievement, professionalism and contribution within Australia’s business broking profession.

The 2026 award was not based simply on the largest single transaction or the greatest total value of sales. Those achievements have separate AIBB award categories.

For the National Business Broker of the Year category, entrants were required to have completed at least five eligible business transactions during the 2025–26 financial year. Qualifying sales had to have settled between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, with the broker acting as the effective cause of sale. AIBB states that sales information is subject to verification and that judging is conducted independently and audited.

That distinction makes the national award an important broader recognition within the Australian business broking industry.

From an Excel Spreadsheet to a National Business Broking Award

Kasapi’s rise in business broking did not begin with an established database of buyers and sellers.

Speaking at the 2026 AIBB National Conference in Cairns, Kasapi described starting with an Excel spreadsheet containing a single contact and simply beginning to call prospective clients.

His first year produced only around two transactions while he continued working another job on weekends.

Over the years that followed, he built his contact database, developed systems and templates around the sales process and increasingly focused his attention on the industry he knew particularly well: hair and beauty.

His advice to other brokers remains relatively simple:

Learn the industry you’re in, specialise in it, get all your emails and templates set up properly, and start building your database.

That strategy has ultimately taken Kasapi from establishing his business one contact at a time to being recognised nationally by Australia’s professional association for business brokers.

A Career of Business Broking Awards

2025 AIBB National Business Broker of the Year Finalist

2021 REIA Business Broker of the Year

2021 AIBB Queensland Specialist Business Broker of the Year

2020 AIBB Queensland Specialist Business Broker of the Year

2019 REIV Business Broker of the Year

2019 AIBB Victoria Business Broker of the Year

2018 REIQ Business Broker of the Year

A Specialist in Salon Business Sales

Much of Kasapi’s career has been built around the sale of hair salons, beauty salons and related businesses across Australia.

Before moving into business broking, he spent more than 15 years in the hair and beauty industry and has also owned a business himself. That experience gave him a practical understanding of the sector before he began advising owners through the sales process.

Salon transactions can involve a distinct mix of considerations, including leases, staffing, client retention, goodwill, equipment, fit-outs and the transition between outgoing and incoming owners.

By specialising in this area, Kasapi has built a strong network of salon owners, buyers and industry contacts while developing a national profile in specialist salon business sales.

Frequently Asked Questions.

All you need to know about John Kasapi’s prestige.

Who won the 2026 AIBB National Business Broker of the Year?

John Kasapi was named the 2026 AIBB National Business Broker of the Year by the Australian Institute of Business Brokers. AIBB lists Kasapi as the winner alongside seven national finalists for the award.

Who is John Kasapi?

John Kasapi is an Australian business broker specialising in the sale of hair, beauty and salon businesses. He is a Salon Sales Specialist Broker with Benchmark Business Sales & Valuations and Lead Salon Broker with Salon For Sale. Benchmark says he has more than 15 years of experience in the hair and beauty industry.

What is the AIBB?

The Australian Institute of Business Brokers is an Australian industry body for business brokers. Its activities include professional development, education, industry resources and its annual national business broking awards.

What other awards has John Kasapi won?

Kasapi’s previous recognition includes the 2021 REIA Business Broker of the Year, the 2021 and 2020 AIBB Queensland Specialist Business Broker of the Year awards, and business broker awards from the REIV and REIQ. He was also an AIBB National Business Broker of the Year finalist in 2025.