What Is My Business Worth?

This estimator answers the question most owners ask first: what is my business worth? Tell us your industry, your earnings, and a few things about how the business runs, and it returns a valuation range built from the multiples buyers actually pay in your industry.

It takes about a minute and nothing is gated. You will see your range on screen as soon as you finish the last question, with no email required.

One thing to be clear about: this is an estimate, not an appraisal. It works from what you type in rather than verified financials, so treat it as a starting point for a real conversation rather than a number to price a deal on.

Almost every small business sale is priced the same way: a multiple of earnings. For owner-operated businesses the earnings figure buyers use is seller's discretionary earnings, which is your net profit plus your own compensation and the personal expenses the business covers for you. That is the number this tool builds from, and it is usually higher than the profit figure on your tax return.

The multiple applied to those earnings depends first on your industry. A software business and a vending route are priced very differently because buyers assign different levels of risk to each. Within an industry, size moves the multiple too. Larger, more profitable businesses attract more buyers and a wider pool of lenders, so they sell for a higher multiple than smaller ones in the same field.

After that it comes down to risk. Buyers pay more when the business can run without the owner, when there is a real team in place, when revenue is growing, and when income comes from repeat customers or contracts rather than one-time jobs. They pay less when the owner is the business, when one customer accounts for much of the revenue, or when the trend is down. Those factors are what move you toward the top or the bottom of your industry range, and they are the same things we work on with owners who come to us early.

For a fuller walkthrough of the method, including worked examples, read our guide to how to value a business in Texas.