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Business valuation, explained
Guides and practical playbooks for learning how to value a business, choosing the right method, reading revenue and EBITDA multiples, comparing SDE and EBITDA, and raising your value before a sale.
How to Value a Business With This Step-by-Step Guide
How to value a business using three methods together: revenue multiple, EBITDA or SDE multiple, and discounted cash flow, read as a range.
Read articleBusiness Valuation Methods Explained From Multiples and DCF to Asset-Based
Business valuation methods explained in plain English: earnings multiples, discounted cash flow, comparable sales, and asset-based value.
Read articleSDE vs EBITDA Difference Explained and When to Use Each
SDE vs EBITDA compared: what each earnings measure includes, how add-backs differ, and which one buyers use to value small versus larger companies.
Read articleWhat Is a Good EBITDA Multiple? Ranges by Size and Industry
What is a good EBITDA multiple depends on company size, industry, and growth. Typical ranges run 3x to 6x for small businesses, higher for larger ones.
Read articleAverage Business Sale Multiple by Industry With 2026 Benchmarks
Average business sale multiples by industry, from SaaS at 4x to 6x ARR to restaurants and agencies at 2x to 3x SDE, with typical ranges and drivers.
Read articleRule of Thumb Business Valuation With Quick Formulas and Their Limits
Rule of thumb business valuation uses simple multiples of revenue or earnings for a fast estimate. Learn the formulas and where they mislead.
Read articleHow to Increase Business Value Before Selling (A Practical Playbook)
How to increase business value before selling: grow and diversify earnings, clean up the books, reduce owner dependence, and add recurring revenue.
Read articleWhat Multiple Does My Business Sell For? How to Estimate Yours
What multiple does my business sell for depends on your model, size, growth, and margins. Learn the typical ranges and what moves your multiple.
Read articleBusiness Appraisal Meaning and What It Costs, Plus When You Need One
Business appraisal explained: the credentialed opinion of what a company is worth, what it costs in 2026, and when a fast estimate is enough instead.
Read articleSelling a Dental Practice and the Best Way to Sell to a DSO, a Private Buyer or a Broker
Selling a dental practice: the median sold at 2.48x SDE for $350,000. What a DSO pays against a private buyer, and why the crossover sits near $500k EBITDA
Read articleBuying a SaaS Business and What to Pay, Based on What Buyers Actually Paid
Buying a SaaS business: the median closed at $625,000, 2.99x owner earnings. What to offer, where SBA financing caps you, and what to verify before you close.
Read articleSelling a Gas Station and How to Price Yours From 796 Sales
Selling a gas station: the median sold for $615,000 at 3.00x owner earnings in 128 days, at 1.00 times asking price. Why discounting to sell costs you money.
Read articleSelling a Restaurant and the Best Way to Get What Restaurants Actually Sell For
Selling a restaurant: the median sold for $220,000 at 1.85x owner earnings after 178 days. Why pricing high and negotiating down does not work.
Read articleSelling an Accounting Practice and the Best Way to Get What CPA Firms Sell For
Selling an accounting practice: the median sold at 1.02x gross fees for $425,000. What a CPA buyer pays versus a capacity buyer or a platform.
Read articleSelling an Insurance Agency and the Best Way to Sell to an Aggregator, a Perpetuation Buyer or a Broker
Selling an insurance agency: the median sold at 2.70x SDE for $497,500. What an aggregator pays versus an individual buyer, and why size decides it.
Read articleSell My HVAC Business for What Private Equity Pays, After You Fix These First
Sell my HVAC business: the median sold at 2.58x SDE for $750,000, the upper quartile at 3.33x. What sets the ceiling and what to fix before you list.
Read articleSell My Business to Private Equity? When It Makes Sense and What a Private Equity Firm Will Pay
Sell my business to private equity: what a platform deal pays versus an add-on, how rollover equity works, and when a sponsor is the wrong buyer for you.
Read articleHow to Find Out How Much a Business Sold For With Comparable Sales Data and Business Sale Comps
How to find out how much a business sold for, using seven sources of comparable sales data, what each one actually reports, and what it costs to access.
Read article409A Valuation Providers and the 409A Valuation Cost Each One Charges in 2026
409A valuation cost in 2026: published prices from Eqvista, Pulley and independent firms, why the headline price is not what you pay, and how to pick a provider.
Read articleHow Much Does It Cost to Buy a Laundromat? Prices From 855 Sales and the SBA Loan Math
What it costs to buy a laundromat in 2026: a $250,000 median from 855 closed sales, the cash an SBA buyer needs at closing, and why listings overstate price.
Read articleBuying a Car Wash and What It Costs With the Cash to Close and SBA Loan Math
Buying a car wash in 2026: an $800,000 median sale price, about $98,900 of SBA cash to close, and why financing the land decides what you can pay.
Read articleBuying a Dumpster Rental Business and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Roll-Off or Junk Removal Company
What it costs to buy a dumpster rental business: a $525,000 median sale, about $63,131 of SBA cash to close, and the fleet reserve that decides whether it pays.
Read articleLocksmith Business for Sale and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Locksmith Company
What a locksmith business for sale costs: a $300,000 median sale, about $36,075 of SBA cash to close, and the license and accounts that decide whether it pays.
Read articleBuying a Home Care Business and What It Costs to Buy a Home Care Agency
What it costs to buy a home care business: a $700,000 median sale, $84,175 of SBA cash to close, and why the loan is rarely what stops the deal.
Read articleBuying a Nail Salon Business and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Salon
What it costs to buy a nail salon: a $150,000 median sale from closed deals, $17,295 of SBA cash to close, and an owner salary of up to $74,088 at that price.
Read articleBuying a Hair Salon and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Salon
What it costs to buy a hair salon: a $115,500 median sale from 879 closed deals, $13,317 of SBA cash to close, and the owner salary the median price leaves.
Read articleBuying a Gym and How Much It Costs to Buy a Gym Business
What it costs to buy a gym: a $210,500 median sale from 400 closed deals, $25,313 of SBA cash to close, and the owner salary the median price leaves.
Read articleBuying a Daycare and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Daycare Center
What it costs to buy a daycare: a $395,000 median sale from 425 closed deals, $47,499 of SBA cash to close, and the owner salary the median price leaves.
Read articleBuying a Funeral Home Business and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Funeral Home
What it costs to buy a funeral home: a $1,500,000 median sale, $185,469 of SBA cash to close, and why the median deal finances only with the building.
Read articleSecurity Guard Company for Sale and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Security Company
What a security guard company for sale costs: a $750,000 median sale, $90,188 of SBA cash to close, payroll working capital and the outside valuation.
Read articleBuying a Towing Company and What It Costs to Buy an Existing Tow Truck Business
What it costs to buy a towing company: a $1,350,000 median sale, about $166,894 of SBA cash to close, and the fleet reserve and rotation work that decide the deal.
Read articleBuying a Staffing Agency, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Staffing Agency and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a staffing agency in 2026: a $670,000 median sale, about $80,568 of SBA cash to close, and the payroll float most buyers forget to price.
Read articleBuying a Medical Billing Company, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Billing Company and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a medical billing company in 2026: a $500,000 median sale, about $60,125 of SBA cash to close, and why client retention and the HIPAA file decide it.
Read articleBuying a Property Management Company, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Property Manager and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a property management company in 2026: a $397,500 median sale, about $47,799 of SBA cash to close, and why owner retention and the broker license decide it.
Read articleBuying a Cleaning Business, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Cleaning or Janitorial Company and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a cleaning business in 2026: a $260,000 median sale, about $31,265 of SBA cash to close, and why the contracts and the payroll decide it.
Read articleBuying a Pest Control Business, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Pest Control Company and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a pest control business in 2026: a $249,000 median sale, about $29,942 of SBA cash to close, and why the operator license and the route decide it.
Read articleBuying a Dry Cleaning Business, What It Costs to Buy an Existing Dry Cleaner and the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a dry cleaning business in 2026: a $250,000 median sale, about $30,063 of SBA cash to close, and why the machine and Phase II decide it.
Read articleBuying a Grocery Store and What an Existing Grocery Store Costs With the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a grocery store in 2026: a $390,000 median sale, about $46,900 of SBA cash to close, and why inventory, margin and WIC decide the deal.
Read articleBuying a Convenience Store and What an Existing Convenience Store Costs With the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a convenience store in 2026: a $210,000 median sale, about $25,253 of SBA cash to close, and why inventory and licenses decide the deal.
Read articleBuying a Landscaping Business and What an Existing Landscaping Company Costs
What it costs to buy a landscaping business in 2026: a $425,000 median sale, about $51,100 of SBA cash to close, and why the equipment decides what you can pay.
Read articleBuying a Liquor Store and What an Existing Liquor Store Costs With the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a liquor store in 2026: a $400,000 median sale, about $48,100 of SBA cash to close, and why inventory decides whether the deal finances.
Read articleBuy a Self Storage Business and What a Storage Facility Costs With the Cash to Close
What it costs to buy a self storage business in 2026: a $990,000 median sale price, about $122,400 of SBA cash to close, and why buying the land changes everything.
Read articleBuying a Trucking Business and What an Existing Trucking Company Costs
Buying a trucking business in 2026: a $1,137,500 median sale price, about $140,600 of SBA cash to close, and why the fleet, not the lender, sets the price.
Read articleHow Much Does It Cost to Buy an Auto Repair Shop? Price, Cash to Close and SBA Loan Math
Buying an auto repair shop: a $410,000 median price from 1,286 closed sales, the SBA cash to close, and why working the bays changes what you can pay.
Read articleBuying a Pharmacy and What It Costs With the Cash Needed at Closing and SBA Loan Math
Buying a pharmacy in 2026: a $325,000 median sale price, the cash an SBA buyer needs at closing, and why the pharmacist salary you take sets what you can pay.
Read articleBusiness Valuation for an SBA Loan, When Lenders Require One Under SOP 50 10 8.1
Business valuation for an SBA loan under SOP 50 10 8.1: the 350,000 dollar purchase price test from October 1, 2026, who is qualified, who pays, and why any price above the appraisal is paid with equity.
Read articleSBA Loan to Buy a Business With the 2026 Requirements, Down Payment and the Price It Will Finance
SBA loan to buy a business in 2026: the 10 percent down payment rule, the coverage test lenders apply, and the purchase price multiple it caps you at.
Read articleHow Accurate Are Business Valuation Calculators? An Honest Answer
How accurate are business valuation calculators? Where they land close, the five inputs that throw them off, and how to test the number.
Read articleWhat Is a Good EBITDA Margin? Benchmarks by Industry for 2026
What is a good EBITDA margin? The median US sector ran 16.57 percent in 2026. Sector benchmarks, what buyers finance, and what margin is worth.
Read articleHow Many Times Profit Is a Business Worth? Revenue, Net Profit and SDE Multiples Compared
How many times profit is a business worth in 2026? Most small businesses sell for 2 to 3 times SDE, not net profit. Real multiples, with a worked example.
Read articleRevenue Multiple vs EBITDA Multiple for Valuing Your Business
Revenue multiple vs EBITDA multiple: the margin identity that connects them, when each is the right tool, and which one a buyer will finance.
Read articleBusiness Valuation Based on Revenue and When It Actually Works
Business valuation based on revenue uses a multiple of sales for a fast estimate: typical revenue multiples by business type and how to sanity-check it.
Read articleHow to Calculate SDE (Seller Discretionary Earnings) Step by Step
How to calculate seller's discretionary earnings (SDE): the formula, which add-backs are legitimate, and how it becomes a valuation multiple.
Read articleCertified Business Appraisal vs an Estimate and Which One You Need
Certified business appraisal or a valuation estimate: when the IRS, a court, or a lender requires a credentialed appraisal, and when an estimate is enough.
Read articleAsset-Based Business Valuation Explained and When to Use It
Asset-based business valuation sets value from what a company owns minus what it owes: the adjusted net asset method, book value vs fair market value.
Read articleHow to Value a Business With No Profit or That Is Losing Money
How to value a business with no profit or that is losing money: the three approaches buyers actually use, and why revenue and assets set the floor.
Read articleBusiness Appraisal vs Business Valuation and Which One You Actually Need
Business appraisal vs business valuation: what business appraisal means, the four levels of valuation work, and when a credentialed appraiser is required.
Read articlePartner Buyout Valuation and How to Set a Fair Buyout Price for a Partner Share
Partner buyout valuation explained: how to value a partner share, when minority and marketability discounts apply, and how buyouts get financed.
Read articleHow Long Does It Take to Sell a Business? Timeline, Averages, and How to Sell Faster
How long it takes to sell a business: the typical six to twelve month timeline, current median days on market, and how to sell faster.
Read articleSeller Financing a Business Sale and How Terms and Down Payments Affect Price
Seller financing a business sale explained: how owner financing works, typical down payments and terms, and how it affects the sale price.
Read articleDocuments Needed to Sell a Business and the Full Due Diligence Checklist
Documents needed to sell a business, from three years of tax returns and a normalized earnings schedule to leases, contracts, and lender add-ons.
Read articleEarnout in a Business Sale With Typical Terms and the Risks to a Seller
Earnout in a business sale explained: what percentage of the price is typical, which metric to use, and the clauses that protect a seller.
Read articleBusiness Valuation for Divorce With the Cost, the Method and Who Can Sign the Report
Business valuation for divorce explained: how a business is valued, which valuation date applies, how goodwill is treated, and what a report costs.
Read articleHow to Prepare a Business for Sale With a 12 to 24 Month Plan
How to prepare a business for sale over 12 to 24 months: clean financials, defensible add-backs, less owner dependence, and a diligence file buyers trust.
Read articleHow to Value a Business With Recurring Revenue Using Multiples and Retention
How to value a business with recurring revenue: ARR and MRR, retention and churn benchmarks, and the multiple ranges recurring contracts actually earn.
Read articleHow to Sell a Business Without a Broker and What the FSBO Process Costs
How to sell a business without a broker: the seven-step FSBO process, what it really costs, and the mistakes that cost more than the commission.
Read articleLetter of Intent to Purchase a Business and How Binding an LOI Really Is
Letter of intent to purchase a business: what an LOI covers, which clauses bind, how long exclusivity runs, and how buyers retrade the price.
Read articleQuality of Earnings Report Cost and How It Differs From an Audit
Quality of earnings report explained: what a QoE covers, what it costs in 2026, how long it takes, and how it differs from an audit.
Read articleAdjusted EBITDA Add-Backs Buyers Actually Accept in a Business Sale
Adjusted EBITDA add-backs explained: which owner salary and one-time adjustments buyers accept, which they dispute, and which get rejected.
Read articleBusiness Broker Fees and How Much Business Brokers Charge to Sell a Business
Business broker fees explained: commission rates by deal size, how the Lehman and Double Lehman formulas work, minimum fees and retainers.
Read articleCapitalization Rate vs Discount Rate in Business Valuation
Capitalization rate vs discount rate explained: what each is applied to, why they differ by the growth rate, and when to use each in a valuation.
Read articleWorking Capital in a Business Sale and Who Keeps the Receivables
Working capital in a business sale: how much is included, how the peg is set from a trailing twelve month average, and who keeps the receivables.
Read articleHow to Calculate Maintenance Capex for a Business Valuation
How to calculate maintenance capex for a business valuation: the asset register method, the depreciation proxy, and what a buyer will deduct.
Read articleBusiness Valuation Software for Accountants and CPAs Compared by Firm Type
Business valuation software for accountants and CPA firms compared on price, report output and comparable data, from ValuSource at $135 a month to fast estimates.
Read articleBest Business Valuation Software for Business Brokers
Best business valuation software for business brokers, compared on price and fit, plus the SBA coverage ratio that sets your real listing ceiling.
Read articleBest Business Valuation Software for Financial Advisors
Best business valuation software for financial advisors, compared on price and output, plus the line between a planning estimate and a valuation opinion.
Read articlePut it into practice
Enter your high-level financials and get a valuation estimate in minutes. Transparent pricing, educational estimate not a certified appraisal.