Valuation Multiples by Industry

What businesses actually sell for, by industry — expressed as a multiple of earnings. Every figure is sourced and dated, and drawn from verified transactions as they close.

In short187industries tracked. Median SDE multiples generally run between 2× and 4× for owner-operated small businesses; the number for any given industry, with its source and date, is on that industry's page.

Accounting & CPA Firms—

Advertising & Media Companies—

Agriculture—

Amazon FBA Businesses—

Appraisal Firms—

Arcades & Entertainment Centers—

Assisted Living Facilities—

Auto Body & Collision Shops—

Auto Dealerships—

Auto Parts Stores—

Auto Repair Shops—

Automotive2.7×

Bakeries—

Barbershops—

Bars & Taverns—

Beauty & Personal Care—

Bed & Breakfasts—

Behavioral Health—

Bookkeeping & Tax Practices—

Bowling Alleys—

Breweries & Distilleries—

Building Materials Distribution—

Campgrounds & RV Parks—

Car Washes—

Catering Companies—

Chemical Manufacturing—

Chiropractic Practices—

Cleaning & Janitorial—

Clothing Boutiques—

Coffee Shops & Cafes—

Commercial Printing—

Concrete & Masonry—

Construction & Trades3×

Consulting Firms—

Consumer Goods Distribution—

Content Websites & Blogs—

Convenience Stores—

Courier & Delivery Services—

Cybersecurity Firms—

Dance Studios—

Data & Analytics Companies—

Day Spas—

Daycare & Childcare Centers—

Delis & Sandwich Shops—

Dental Practices—

Digital Products & Courses—

Dog Training Businesses—

Domain Portfolios—

Driving Schools—

Dropshipping Stores—

E-Commerce & Online3.4×

Education & Childcare—

Electrical Contractors—

Electronics Manufacturing—

Escape Rooms—

Event Services—

Event Venues—

Excavation Companies—

Farms—

Fast Food & QSR—

Fencing Companies—

Financial Advisory Firms—

Financial Services3.4×

Fitness & Recreation—

Flooring Companies—

Florists—

Food & Beverage Distribution—

Food & Beverage Manufacturing—

Food Trucks—

Freight Brokerages—

Full-Service Restaurants—

Funeral Homes—

Furniture Stores—

Garage Door Companies—

Gas Stations—

General Contractors—

Gift Shops—

Golf Courses & Driving Ranges—

Greenhouses—

Grocery Stores & Markets—

Gyms & Fitness Centers—

Hair Salons—

Hardware Stores—

Healthcare & Medical3.6×

Home Health Care—

Home Inspection Companies—

Hospitality & Travel—

Hotels & Motels—

HVAC Companies—

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops—

Import/Export Businesses—

Industrial Supplies Distribution—

Insurance Agencies—

IT Services & MSPs—

Jewelry Stores—

Junk Removal & Hauling—

Landscaping & Lawn Care—

Lash & Brow Studios—

Laundromats & Dry Cleaners—

Limousine & Shuttle Services—

Liquor Stores—

Machine Shops—

Manufacturing & Industrial—

Marinas—

Marketing Agencies—

Martial Arts Schools—

Massage Businesses—

Media & Entertainment—

Medical Billing Companies—

Medical Practices—

MedSpas—

Metal Fabrication—

Mobile Apps—

Mobile Pet Services—

Money Services Businesses—

Montessori Schools—

Mortgage Brokerages—

Motorcycle Dealers & Repair—

Moving Companies—

Music & Arts Schools—

Nail Salons—

NEMT & Ambulance Services—

Nurseries & Garden Centers—

Oil Change & Quick Lube—

Pawn Shops—

Pest Control Companies—

Pet Boarding & Daycare—

Pet Grooming Businesses—

Pet Services—

Pet Stores—

Pharmacies—

Photography Studios—

Physical Therapy Clinics—

Pizzerias—

Plastics & Rubber Manufacturing—

Plumbing Companies—

Pool Service Companies—

Preschools—

Printing & Signage—

Production Companies—

Property Management Companies—

Publishing Businesses—

Ranches—

Real Estate Brokerages—

Real Estate Services—

Retail—

Self-Storage Facilities—

Services—

Shopify & DTC Brands—

Sign Manufacturing—

Software Development Firms—

Sporting Goods Stores—

Sports Facilities—

Staffing & Recruiting Agencies—

Subscription Box Businesses—

Tanning Salons—

Tattoo Studios—

Technology & Software—

Telecom Services—

Tire Shops—

Title Companies—

Towing Companies—

Trade & Vocational Schools—

Transportation & Logistics—

Travel Agencies—

Tree Service Companies—

Trucking Companies—

Tutoring & Test Prep Centers—

Vacation Rental Businesses—

Vape & Smoke Shops—

Vending Machine Routes—

Veterinary Practices—

Vineyards & Wineries—

Warehousing & 3PL—

Web Design & Development Agencies—

Wholesale & Distribution—

Woodworking & Furniture Manufacturing—

Yoga & Pilates Studios—

YouTube Channels—

How to read this

A multiple is the ratio of sale price to annual earnings. A business earning $500K in SDE that sells for $1.5M changed hands at a 3× multiple. Multiples vary by industry, size, growth, and how dependent the business is on its owner — which is why a verified, industry-specific number beats a rule of thumb.

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