What Is My Business Worth? A Plain-English Valuation Guide (2026)
Most owners are quietly terrified to ask the one question that matters most: what is this thing actually worth? Here's the honest math — and a calculator to get your ballpark in ten seconds.
Small businesses don't sell on revenue. They sell on cash flow — specifically Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE): your profit, plus your owner's salary, plus the personal and one-time expenses run through the business. A buyer pays a multiple of that SDE, and the multiple depends heavily on your industry.
Typical 2026 SDE multiples by industry
| Industry | Typical multiple |
|---|---|
| Marina / boat & RV storage | ~6.6x |
| Car wash | ~4.7x |
| Self-storage | ~4.6x |
| Laundromat | ~4.0x |
| Home services / trades | ~2.5–3.0x |
| Local retail | ~2.0–2.5x |
| All-industry average | ~2.7x |
Estimate your value
Why the multiple moves
- Recurring revenue and predictable cash flow push it up (that's why storage and marinas rank high).
- Owner dependence pulls it down — if the business is you, buyers discount it.
- Clean books and verifiable add-backs protect your number in due diligence.
- Growth trajectory — a business that's clearly climbing earns a premium.
That last point is the one we obsess over. Before we ever talk price, we look at where AI, better marketing, and 24/7 responsiveness could lift your cash flow — because a higher SDE at the same multiple means a bigger number for you. Selling on flexible terms lets you share in that growth instead of leaving it on the table.
Curious what your exit could look like?
Tell us a little about your business and we'll put together a free, private exit analysis — what it may be worth, where it could grow, and how a deal on your terms (often with nothing down) might work.
Get my free exit analysis → No pushy sales line to call. You share your details, we reach out — on your schedule.