TradeExit Guide
Updated September 2026

What is your business worth, and how do you sell it well?

Sourced multiples and a free calculator that shows a range without asking for your email, the licensing and tax rules for business brokers in all 50 states, independent broker reviews, and calculators for the deal terms that decide what you keep.

Get my free valuation range Find brokers by state

The small-business sale market right now

Deals reported, Q2 2026
2,117
BizBuySell Insight Report
Median sale price
$349,250
Q2 2026
Avg cash-flow multiple
2.7x
all industries, Q2 2026
Deals $2M-$5M
4.0x
EBITDA, IBBA Market Pulse Q2 2026

Free valuation range

Applies the cited SDE multiple band for your trade, then positions you inside it using recurring revenue, customer concentration, owner dependence, years operating and trend. Educational estimate, not an appraisal.

Pre-tax profit + one owner's pay and perks + interest + depreciation + one-time costs. Not sure? Use the SDE calculator.

Educational estimate, not an appraisal or an offer. Ranges come from published closed-sale data and broker/adviser reports cited on each trade page; the adjustment weights are our own documented heuristic (see Editorial policy). Real estate, inventory and working capital are excluded.

Get the full valuation brief (printable)

Your inputs and range, the cited multiples behind it, the buyer type active at your size, three changes that move the multiple, and next steps - on this page, ready to print or save as a PDF.

We are not a broker and do not share your details with buyers. Your download appears instantly on this page; we contact you later only if you tick the box. Delete anytime via the contact page.

Your brief is below. We do not share your details with buyers or brokers.

Valuation brief: -

Prepared with the TradeExit Guide valuation calculator (tradeexitguide.com). Educational estimate, not an appraisal or an offer.

Your inputs

Annual revenue-
SDE / owner cash flow-
Recurring / contract revenue-
Largest customer share-
Owner hours per week in the work-
Years in business-
3-year trend-

Result

Estimated value range-
Implied SDE multiple-
Cited SDE multiple band for this trade- to -
Full cited range in dollars-
Implied multiple of revenue-
Most likely buyer type-
Pricing basis-
Source of the band-

What moves your multiple

  • Recurring revenue (you: -). At 25%+ the calculator moves you up the band; at 50%+ further. Maintenance agreements, contracts and memberships count.
  • Owner dependence (you: -). Under 20 hours a week in the field or chair helps; under 10 helps most. Buyers pay for a business that runs without you.
  • Customer concentration (you: -). Keep any single customer under about 15% of revenue.

Next steps

  1. Recast your earnings line by line with the SDE calculator (tradeexitguide.com/tools/sde-calculator/).
  2. See what you would keep after taxes and fees with the after-tax proceeds calculator (tradeexitguide.com/tools/after-tax-proceeds-calculator/).
  3. Read your trade's valuation page for the sources behind the band and the drivers buyers cite.
  4. If you have an offer, compare it on guaranteed cash, not headline price (tradeexitguide.com/guides/unsolicited-pe-offer/).
  5. Before you sell, get a formal valuation from a credentialed appraiser or an experienced intermediary.

Ranges come from published closed-sale data and broker/adviser reports; adjustment weights are our own documented heuristic. Real estate, inventory, working capital, debt and taxes are excluded.

Selling a practice or service business

Dental practiceMedical practiceVeterinary practiceRestaurantInsurance agencyAccounting / CPA firmHome services (HVAC, plumbing, pest, roofing, electrical)

Brokers, fees and deal terms

Business brokers by stateLicensing, taxes and fees in all 50 statesBroker and marketplace reviewsTransworld, Sunbelt, Empire Flippers, BizBuySell and moreSeller financing calculatorPayment, balloon, cash at closeEarn-out calculatorWhat an earn-out is worth todayESOP vs saleSection 1042 and price trade-offsMultiples by industrySourced data table

For buyers

Dental practiceMedical practiceVeterinary practiceRestaurantInsurance agencyAccounting / CPA firmHome services (HVAC, plumbing, pest, roofing, electrical)

We are not a business broker. We do not list businesses, represent buyers or sellers, or take success fees. Why that matters.

Sources

  1. BizBuySell Insight Report (Q2 2026) (accessed 2026-09-23)
  2. IBBA / M&A Source / Pepperdine Market Pulse, Q2 2026 highlights (accessed 2026-09-23)