What is your small business worth?
An estimate built from what small service businesses really sold for, not from asking prices. Takes a minute. No signup.
What small service businesses actually sold for
Figures are for service businesses sold on BizBuySell, 2021 to 2025. Multiples are the sale price divided by yearly owner earnings (SDE) or by yearly revenue.
| Lower quartile | Median | Average | Upper quartile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings multiple (SDE) | 1.75x | 2.38x | 2.58x | 3.13x |
| Revenue multiple | 0.48x | 0.71x | 0.82x | 1.04x |
Median sale price $395,000; businesses sold for about 93% of the asking price. Source: BizBuySell valuation benchmarks for service businesses, read October 2026. These are BizBuySell's figures for service businesses as a whole, the widest group of owner-run small businesses that sell. Restaurants, retail and online businesses price differently; a trade below, or our free evaluation, gives a sharper number. Consultants in a Box is not affiliated with BizBuySell.
What moves the value of a small business
Recurring customers, earnings that hold up without the owner doing the work, clean books and growth over the last three years are what move a small business toward the top of its range.
- Size. Larger companies sell for higher multiples. The calculator adjusts the multiple for the size you enter.
- Owner dependence. A business that runs without you on every job is worth more than one that stops when you do.
- Clean, provable books. Buyers and lenders pay for earnings they can verify.
- Recurring revenue and a steady lead flow. Predictable work is easier to finance.
Questions people ask
How much is a business worth with $1 million in sales?
For a typical owner-run service business, about 0.5 to 1 times yearly revenue, so roughly $480,000 to $1 million on $1 million in sales. Owner earnings decide where in that range it lands: buyers usually pay about 1.75 to 3.1 times them.
How do you value a small business?
Most small businesses are priced on their yearly owner earnings (seller's discretionary earnings, or SDE) times a multiple, with a multiple of revenue as a cross-check. The multiples come from businesses like yours that actually sold.
What is SDE?
Seller's discretionary earnings: what the business earns in a year before you pay yourself, plus one-time and personal expenses. It is the number buyers of small businesses price against.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It is a quick estimate from published sale data, meant to start a conversation. A real price depends on your books, your customers, your team and the buyer. For a formal number, use a business broker or a certified appraiser.
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This is an indicative estimate from published sale data, not an appraisal, and not financial, legal or tax advice.