Davina Lacey on empathy, empowerment, and building a better brokerage

From business owner to business broker

Davina Lacey didn’t enter the world of business broking the traditional way—and that’s exactly what makes her such a force in the industry. Before taking over Stockbridge Business Brokers, Davina was a multi-site franchise owner in the Pilates and wellness space. Like many entrepreneurs, she eventually reached a point where she was ready for a change.

“I went through the process of selling my businesses myself,” she explains. “I had a buyer lined up, but by the end, I could see all the reasons I should have used a broker. The negotiations, the emotion—it’s a lot.”

That experience sparked something in her. Davina didn’t just see what business broking could offer—she felt called to offer it. “It’s not something most business owners do often. You need someone in your corner who knows the ropes.”

Bringing empathy and experience to the table

Now, years later, Davina leads a growing team at Stockbridge Business Brokers in Brisbane, bringing that hard-won empathy to every vendor she works with. She calls herself a generalist that leans a little more into the franchises and fitness space, but says, “We sell everything—from Pilates studios to bookkeeping businesses. I love the diversity. Every business has a different story.”

Stockbridge is a team of generalists with specialist insights. “Each of us comes from a different background,” she says. “That’s our strength. Whether it’s beauty, hospitality, or accounting—someone on the team has lived and breathed it.”

And that lived experience shows. “We know what it’s like to sell a business because we’ve done it ourselves. We understand the emotions, not just the numbers.”

Changing the face of business broking

Davina is also on a mission to challenge the status quo. “There aren’t many women in this industry. I’m younger than most brokers, and I think that alone makes a bit of a ripple. But it’s not just abohttps://youtu.be/-kz0A_h_Kxs?si=oVpfENxsd9Ex7wUvut age or gender—it’s about how we treat people.”

She recalls an early meeting with a Thai restaurant owner that left a mark. “She cried at the end of our meeting. Said I was the first broker who didn’t belittle her English. I didn’t even realise that was happening to her, and it broke my heart. I didn’t sell her business—I actually told her not to spend the money on a broker—but I gave her the tools and support to do it herself.”

That moment crystallised Davina’s ‘why’: to bring compassion into a profession that doesn’t always lead with it.

Guiding clients through the process (and the emotions)

When working with a vendor, Davina’s approach is clear: “Be upfront, open and honest. Most of our clients have never sold a business before, so we take the time to explain everything—how long it might take, what different sales structures look like, and what’s realistic in the current market.”

She’s also big on doing the groundwork: “No one knows a business better than its owner. Our job is to spend time understanding it, so we can sell it properly—and we often go visit the business as a customer to get a real sense of it.”

Her advice to owners? “Don’t set your own price in your head. It’ll stick, and it might not reflect the market. Let the numbers and recent sales guide you. Every business is sellable—it’s just a matter of price and terms.”

Rethinking what makes a “good” sale

When asked what a successful sale looks like, Davina doesn’t jump straight to price. “The best outcomes happen when the vendor is open to change, and the buyer is willing to negotiate. If you’re only in it to walk away with the money, you might make it harder than it needs to be. The most satisfying sales happen when both sides genuinely want the business to succeed.”

On regrets, learnings and doing things differently

Davina is candid about what she wishes she’d known when selling her own businesses. “Nothing goes smoothly. Ever. This isn’t like selling a house—even if you’ve got a signed offer, there’s still a million moving parts. Most settlements don’t happen on the date you think they will. You’ve mentally checked out, but you still have to be present. That’s where a broker helps.”

Her takeaway? “I didn’t use a broker—and I regret it. You need someone to buffer the emotions, field the interest, and negotiate on your behalf. It’s so much harder to hold your ground when you’re doing it all yourself.”

Helping owners think ahead

Unsurprisingly, Davina believes the best time to start thinking about your business sale is before you even open the doors. “At the end of my first week in business, I asked my accountant: ‘What do I need to sell this one day?’ He thought I hated it already! But I didn’t—I just knew I wouldn’t want to do it forever.”

Her advice to anyone running a business? “Make yourself less essential. Don’t name the business after yourself if you ever want to sell it. Work towards creating a business that can operate without you—and talk to a business coach or broker a couple of years out from selling. We’re happy to help.”

Get in touch with Davina