Estimate the fair market value of your small business instantly, using industry-standard methods. No signup required.
Total gross revenue for the last 12 months.
Seller Discretionary Earnings (SDE): net profit plus owner salary and add-backs.
Selects the SDE multiple range typical for your sector.
Older businesses with stable history often command higher multiples.
Positive growth increases buyer confidence and valuation.
This estimator uses the SDE Multiple Method, the most common approach for valuing small businesses with under $5M in annual revenue. Here is the methodology:
Each industry has a typical SDE multiple range based on historical transaction data. For example, service businesses commonly sell for 2.5x to 3.5x SDE. This tool uses the midpoint of your sector range as the base.
Businesses operating for more than 5 years receive a small multiple increase (up to +0.25x) because longevity signals stability and lowers buyer risk. Businesses under 2 years receive a slight reduction (-0.15x).
Strong year-over-year revenue growth (above 15%) adds up to +0.3x to the multiple, reflecting future earnings potential. Declining revenue subtracts from the multiple (down to -0.3x).
The tool outputs three figures: a conservative estimate (base multiple minus 0.4x), a midpoint (adjusted multiple), and an optimistic estimate (base multiple plus 0.4x). The formula is:
A secondary sanity check uses a revenue multiple (typically 0.4x to 0.8x annual revenue for most small businesses). If the SDE-based estimate is significantly higher than the revenue-based estimate, a caution note is shown.
Note: This tool provides an educational estimate only. Actual business valuations depend on additional factors such as customer concentration, intellectual property, lease terms, owner dependence, and current market conditions. Always consult a certified business valuator (CBV) or M and A advisor for a formal appraisal.
Part of the Free SEO Tools Suite | For educational use only. Not financial advice.