I spent ten years in the Police.
I bought a business.
Life forced me to sell it.
None of that is how I planned to become a business broker, but all of it is why I'm good at it.
The Police taught me to understand people and different perspectives, stay calm when things get complicated, communicate clearly under pressure, and deal with people from every walk of life.
Buying and running a business taught me what it actually feels like to be a business owner. The late nights, the staff issues, the customer complaints, the pride when everything goes right and the growth from implementing structure. I grew it from a single Google review to become the highest-rated garage door company in Auckland, built the team, and substantially improved the financials.
Then my daughter was born with serious health conditions. We sold the business because we had to, not because the timing was right.
Those experiences shaped how I work with vendors. Selling a business is rarely just a financial transaction. For most owners it's the culmination of years of sacrifice, stress, and hard work. Sometimes it's a choice. Sometimes life makes it for you.
I've lived that. I understand what's at stake, whether you're selling on your own terms or not.
The broker who sold my business saw how I handled the process, preparing information, engaging with buyers and working through the detail. When the deal was done, he invited me to join the company. That's how I ended up at Barker Business, and I haven't looked back.
In three years I've become one of Barker Business's Top 5 brokers and hold the company record for the most offers received on a single listing across our 19-year history. I'm proud of those results. But what I'm most proud of is that every vendor I've worked with has felt informed, in control, and properly looked after throughout the process.
Police Officer
New Zealand Police
A decade in the Police built the foundation for how I work today: clear communication under pressure, the ability to connect quickly with people from all walks of life, understand what drives them, and an uncompromising commitment to doing the right thing by clients.
Owner and Managing Director
Dominator Garage Doors Rodney
Purchased as a going concern and substantially grew the business by overhauling sales and operational processes, growing the team, and building it into the highest-rated garage door company in Auckland.
Business Broker
Barker Business Brokerage
In three years: Top 5 Broker (2026), inaugural Rising Star (ranked number one across all four performance categories), and holder of the company record for most offers on a single listing in Barker's 19-year history.
Record holder
Seven offers on one business, the record across Barker Business's entire 19-year history and a team of nearly 40 brokers
2026 Top 5 Broker
Top 5 Broker at Barker Business Brokerage, ranked nationally
2026 Rising Star
Number one across all four performance categories in my first three years as a broker
REAA Licensed
Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008
There is more to life than business sales.
When I am not working, I am most likely on the water, in the workshop, or spending time with the family. Sailing is something I take seriously. There is something about having to read conditions, make decisions quickly, and stay calm when it gets rough that I find genuinely satisfying.
I also spend a lot of time in the workshop. Woodturning is one of those crafts that demands patience and attention. You cannot rush it, and the material tells you what it wants to be. I find it a good counterbalance to a job that is often fast-moving and people-focused.
At home there is my wife Ana, our son Harvey, and the rest of the crew: a dog, a cat, and a horse that keeps things interesting. Family is the reason behind a lot of the choices I have made, and it stays at the centre of how I think about everything else.
Vendors and buyers across New Zealand
“Selecting Joel Costello proved to be an excellent choice for our shareholders. He diligently prepared the advertising, Information Memorandum, financial forecasts, conducted all preliminary interviews, and assisted with negotiations and due diligence. He conducted himself in a very professional manner throughout. I have recommended Joel to business associates and would have no hesitation doing so to anyone contemplating a business sale.”
“We sold a business through Joel Costello. He was easy and calm to deal with and showed an interest in the business that enabled Joel to market and sell it for a healthy amount. We would have no hesitation in recommending Joel Costello to market and sell your business.”
“We purchased a business this year through Joel Costello at Barker Business Brokers and we found dealing with Joel excellent as he kept the process moving through to a successful outcome, Thank you Joel”
Ready to talk about your business?
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