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Business valuation calculator by industry
Get a starting price range for a small business from its owner profit (SDE), its industry and its size, and see whether a buyer could finance it.
Business value range
A starting range based on owner profit, your industry and size, and a check on whether a buyer could finance it with an SBA 7(a) loan.
What else moves the price. This range is an assumption built on averages. Multiples differ by industry and size, and real buyers also weigh:
- Licenses, permits and contracts that transfer, or do not
- Client base: repeat customers, contracts and how much one client is of sales
- Risk: owner dependence, staff, competition and trends
- Real estate: lease term left, rent, and whether the property is owned
- Equipment, inventory, growth and clean financial records
Industry averages: BizBuySell, business valuation multiples by industry, closed sales Q3 2021 to Q2 2026. Size ranges: common broker benchmarks; above about $5 million in revenue, buyers usually price on EBITDA.
Disclosure: These tools are for a quick idea only, not advice or a loan offer. Real market data, property due diligence, lender terms and your own situation decide the final numbers once you finalize a deal and apply. Verify every result with your agent, loan officer, CPA or attorney before you decide.
How the calculator works
- Pick an industry to load its average multiple from closed small-business sales reported to BizBuySell.
- The range widens or shifts with revenue. Above about $5 million in revenue, buyers usually price on EBITDA.
- The strength setting places the estimate low, middle or high in the range.
- The financing check compares owner profit with a buyer’s yearly SBA 7(a) loan payments.
Common questions
What is SDE?
Seller’s discretionary earnings is the total yearly cash one full-time owner gets from the business: profit before taxes plus the owner’s salary and benefits, personal expenses run through the business, one-time costs, interest, depreciation and amortization.
Why do multiples differ by industry?
Buyers pay more for businesses with steady, repeat revenue, low owner dependence and room to grow, and less for businesses that rely on the owner or face heavy competition.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It is a rough starting range built on averages. Licenses, client base, risk, the real estate lease or ownership, equipment and records all change the real price.
How much does a buyer need to put down with an SBA 7(a) loan?
Buyers often inject about 10% of the price, and some deals use seller financing for part of it. Lender requirements vary.